Internal friction within the Uttar Pradesh Congress surfaced dramatically ahead of the 2027 assembly elections following intense clashes at the party's Mall Avenue headquarters in Lucknow on Sunday, November 11, 2026. The unrest broke out during the official assumption of charge by newly appointed state unit president Aradhana Mishra Mona, causing serious concern among senior leaders. At the centre of the turmoil is women wing leader Mamta Chaudhary, who has levelled strong accusations against former state chief Ajay Rai and his loyalists. In contrast, the Ajay Rai faction contends that the allegations stem from backing provided by the incoming leadership.
Mamta Chaudhary's Role and the Day of the Event
Mamta Chaudhary has maintained a prolonged association with the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, actively engaging in organizational tasks and women wing initiatives. She is widely known within party ranks for raising a determined voice on issues concerning Dalit rights and women's welfare. On Sunday, the entire state women wing assembled at the Lucknow headquarters to receive Aradhana Mishra Mona. Mamta Chaudhary was participating alongside other women workers to manage the welcome corridor when tensions escalated, rapidly turning the party premises into a scene of chaotic confrontation.
Allegations of Misbehaviour and Physical Aggression
Speaking to reporters after the incident, Mamta Chaudhary provided an emotional and sharp account of how events unfolded. She stated that while women members were clearing a passage to welcome Aradhana Mishra, former state president Ajay Rai suddenly turned and shouted at her. According to Mamta Chaudhary, Ajay Rai aggressively warned her to stay within her limits, triggering immediate chaos as his supporters turned hostile.
She further alleged that at the behest of Ajay Rai, his followers behaved aggressively like campus hoodlums. She described how individuals brandished footwear and assaulted women workers. Emphasizing the nature of the confrontation, she pointed out that this was not a conventional clash between two organizational factions, but an assault by male workers targeting solitary women activists.
Claims of Dalit Harassment and Impending Appeal to High Command
Mamta Chaudhary framed the encounter as an instance of targeted harassment against Dalits, arguing that this faction has consistently exhibited anti-Dalit sentiment in the past. She announced that the women wing would travel to Delhi to formally present their grievances to Rahul Gandhi regarding the improper conduct. This stance has transformed what initially appeared to be a leadership rivalry between Ajay Rai and Aradhana Mishra into a contentious debate centered on women's dignity and the respect accorded to Dalit leadership.
Organizational Crisis Before Senior Leadership
The open defiance and public statements from both national and state level women leaders present a significant administrative hurdle for party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. With the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections approaching, severe friction between the former state unit head and active women representatives provides the Bharatiya Janata Party with direct political ammunition. The immediate focus remains on whether the central leadership will initiate decisive disciplinary steps over Mamta Chaudhary's formal complaint.
