On October 11, a clash broke out at the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) headquarters in Lucknow during the formal charge-taking ceremony of newly appointed state president Aradhana Mishra (Mona) and working president Imran Masood. Supporters of the outgoing state president Ajay Rai and Congress councillor Mamta Chaudhary got into a heated argument that soon turned into a physical fight, with shoes being thrown between the two groups.
#Congress workers attacked each other with shoes during a scuffle at UPCC headquarters in #Lucknow ahead of newly appointed state president Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’s’ visit on Sunday. Her maiden press conference was delayed by an hour. https://t.co/ezoxny4RS3
— TOI Lucknow (@TOILucknow) October 11, 2026
Argument escalates into a scuffle
The dispute began when Ajay Rai arrived at the party office with his supporters. As they tried to make their way through the crowd, his supporters asked people near the entrance to move aside, saying, “The president is coming, please clear the way.”
Chaudhary reportedly responded by asking, “Which president?” Her response triggered an argument between the two groups, which soon escalated into a scuffle. Party workers from both sides clashed, while Rai’s supporters raised slogans and protested with shoes in their hands.
The incident reportedly upset Rai, who initially decided to leave the headquarters without attending the formal handover ceremony. However, Congress MP Imran Masood and incoming state president Aradhana Mishra intervened, following which Rai returned and formally handed over charge to Mishra.
Ajay Rai demands Mamta Chaudhary’s expulsion
After the clash, Rai raised the issue with senior Congress leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, Mishra and Masood. He said the incident had damaged the party’s image and could affect its internal atmosphere. Rai also demanded that Chaudhary be expelled from the Congress. Party sources said he was assured that the matter would be looked into, but no formal action has been announced so far.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Mahila Congress vice-president Sheela Mishra offered a different account of the incident. She said women workers had gathered to welcome both the outgoing and incoming presidents when some men asked them to move aside. According to her, Chaudhary only reminded them that the women were also there to welcome the new president. Sheela also claimed that banners put up by women workers had been damaged earlier.
Despite the confrontation, Mishra formally took charge as the new Uttar Pradesh Congress president.
