Newly appointed UP Congress president Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’.
LUCKNOW: Newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ on Sunday declared that strengthening the party organisation and securing a better electoral performance in the 2027 assembly polls would be her foremost priorities, while accusing the BJP govt of failing on unemployment, inflation, corruption, farmers’ issues and women’s safety. Expressing confidence that Congress and its allies would improve upon their 2024 performance, Mona said removing the BJP govt in 2027 would be the party’s central objective. Launching a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Mona alleged that the Election Commission was responsible for the theft of more than 13 crore votes across the country. She said Congress would mobilise its workers across the state, strengthen its grassroots organisation and build a united opposition campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing her maiden press conference at the UP Congress headquarters in Lucknow after assuming charge, Mona said the party would intensify its campaign to protect the Constitution and democracy. Acknowledging Rai’s contribution, she said he had led the organisation through difficult circumstances and strengthened its foundations. Interestingly, outgoing state president Ajay Rai, whom she thanked for strengthening the organisation, was not present during her first interaction with the media as state chief. She also recalled her family’s four-generation association with the freedom movement and Congress, pledging to protect the dignity of every party worker. The allegation was not accompanied by independently verified evidence in her remarks. She also accused authorities of turning Delhi into a fortress and mistreating opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and women parliamentarians, during demonstrations.