Congress announced on Wednesday that former hockey legend Pargat Singh will lead its Punjab unit and three‑time MLA Aradhana Misra Mona will helm Uttar Pradesh.
The appointments come after Raja Warring's abrupt resignation, which followed a bitter clash with former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Warring had steered the party through the 2022 elections, but his exit left the Punjab state unit scrambling.
Mona, the daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, is seen as a bridge to the Samajwadi Party. Akhilesh Yadav said the change would strengthen a coordinated campaign in the upcoming polls.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the party's national president, praised the new leaders, saying their experience would bring fresh energy to the state units. He added that Congress will work closely with the Samajwadi Party.
Alongside the chief appointments, Congress named Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood as working president of the Uttar Pradesh unit, while Devendra Nishad and Alok Prasad were elevated to vice‑president roles. Chaudhary Virendra Singh will take over as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state.
In Rampur Khas, Mona's constituency, residents say her presence has revived local development projects and increased voter engagement. The new leadership plans to launch joint rallies with the Samajwadi Party by early November, with the dual objective of unseating the BJP before the 2027 state elections.