LUCKNOW: Rampur Khas MLA and legislature party leader Aradhana Mishra “Mona” has been appointed the new Uttar Pradesh congress president, replacing Ajay Rai, who had held the post since August 2023.Her appointment places a familiar Congress face from Pratapgarh at the helm of the party in the state.Aradhna Mishra represents the Rampur Khas constituency in Pratapgarh, where she has built a strong political base rooted in her family’s longstanding association with the seat.In the 2022 assembly election, Mishra secured her third consecutive electoral victory, defeating her nearest BJP rival, Nagesh Pratap Singh alias Chhote Sarkar, by 14,741 votes.Her repeated victories have kept the Congress represented prominently in a state where the party faced a major electoral setback in the assembly polls.Her political standing in Rampur Khas is closely linked to her father, Pramod Tiwari, whose political influence helped nurture the family’s connection with the constituency.Mishra’s 2022 victory came as the BJP sought to end the Congress’s hold over the seat after 42 years.
Family legacy at the centre of her politics
Mishra’s political journey has unfolded against the backdrop of a family legacy in Rampur Khas. Her father Pramod Tiwari played a significant role in establishing and strengthening the family’s political presence in the constituency.Her electoral record, however, has also given her an independent position within the Congress. She has served as the Congress legislature party leader in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, putting her at the centre of the party’s legislative politics in the state.
Aradhana Mishra “Mona” with leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi
A strong digital footprint
Aradhana Mishra Mona also maintains a sizeable presence on social media, giving her a direct platform to reach supporters and share her political views and activities.On Instagram, she uses the handle @aradhanam7000 and has 28.8K followers. Her presence on X (formerly Twitter) is considerably larger, with 64.4K followers, while she follows 202 accounts.
From CLP leader to UP Congress chief
Aradhna Mishra’s elevation to the CLP leadership dates back to 2019, when she became the first woman leader of the legislature party not only in the Congress but, according to the report, in any party in any state in the country.The appointment came at a time when the Congress was looking to revive its political presence in Uttar Pradesh. As CLP leader, Mishra was tasked with leading the party’s MLAs in the assembly and confronting the state government from the opposition benches.Her latest appointment as UP Congress chief now expands that responsibility from the Assembly floor to the organisation across the state.
A visible presence in protests
Mishra has also participated in political protests and campaigns. In 2025, she extended support to members of the Goswami community and local residents protesting the proposed Banke Bihari Corridor in Vrindavan.Her participation in the issue has added another dimension to her political profile, bringing her into a local agitation centred on the proposed corridor and concerns raised by members of the community and residents.In 2024, she was also involved in the Congress’s response to the violence in Sambhal.Police were deployed at her residence when she was scheduled to accompany Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to meet families of victims.At the time, Mishra described the action as an “illegal house arrest” and said it was intended to suppress the voice of democracy. She questioned why Congress leaders were being prevented from meeting the families and said the action was a violation of constitutional rights.
Political challenges ahead
Aradhna Mishra’s elevation comes after years of experience as an MLA, CLP leader and political campaigner, combined with the backing of a longstanding political family in Pratapgarh.From repeatedly defending the Congress stronghold of Rampur Khas to leading the party in the assembly and participating in protests, her political career has been built across both electoral and organisational fronts.As she takes over as Uttar Pradesh Congress president from Ajay Rai, her record in the assembly, her family’s political legacy and her engagement with protests are among the defining elements of her political journey so far.
