LUCKNOW: Factional tensions within the Uttar Pradesh Congress came to the fore on October 11 when supporters of outgoing Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Rai and Congress councillor Mamta Chaudhary clashed at the party headquarters in Lucknow.
The confrontation took place during the formal charge-taking ceremony of newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Mishra (Mona) and working president Imran Masood. The altercation began with a verbal exchange between supporters of the two camps before turning into a physical scuffle, with shoes being thrown between the groups.
देशभर में ‘वोट चोरी’ का शोर मचाने वाली कांग्रेस के अपने प्रदेश कार्यालय में जूते चल रहे हैं।
वास्तव में कांग्रेस को चुनाव आयोग पर सवाल उठाने से पहले अपने घर की हालत सुधारनी चाहिए।
घर में जूतमपैजार और हार का ठीकरा किसी और के सिर! pic.twitter.com/iTzYMpqYGY
— Sidharth Yadav (@SidharthYadavIN) October 11, 2026
Argument over movement through crowded party office
The dispute reportedly began after Ajay Rai arrived at the Congress office along with his supporters. As the former state president and his group attempted to move through the gathering, Rai’s supporters asked people near the entrance to make way, saying, “The president is coming, please clear the way.”
Mamta Chaudhary reportedly responded by asking, “Which president?”
The remark triggered a heated exchange between the two sides. What started as a verbal argument soon escalated, with party workers from both groups becoming involved in a scuffle.
Speaking about the incident, Chaudhary said she was among a large group of women from the Mahila Congress who had gathered at the party headquarters to welcome newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Mishra (Mona).
According to Chaudhary, the women were informed that Mishra had arrived and were subsequently asked to make way after learning that Ajay Rai had also reached the venue. She said the women moved aside and continued waiting for Mishra.
“I didn’t even realise what was happening at the time,” Chaudhary said, adding that she was talking to other women workers and had no idea who had made any particular remark or what had triggered the confrontation.
She alleged that Rai suddenly turned towards her and shouted, “Stay within your limits! Stay within your limits!”
Chaudhary further alleged that Rai’s associates then confronted the women, repeatedly asking who had made certain remarks and what had been said. She claimed that some of them began brandishing slippers and shoes and physically assaulted women workers.
Describing the episode, Chaudhary said the incident should not be portrayed as a clash between two rival Congress factions.
“This wasn’t a clash between rival factions; it was simply men on one side and women on the other,” she said.
Chaudhary also questioned why Rai had reacted in such a manner, saying she still did not understand what had prompted the confrontation.
She rejected allegations that she had made provocative remarks against Rai, claiming that the allegations were being fabricated after the incident. Chaudhary also referred to video footage of the episode, saying it would show that she was not even looking in Rai’s direction when he entered the venue.
She alleged that there had been similar behaviour towards Dalits in the past, claiming, “They have always had a problem with Dalits; they used to behave this way in the past, too.”
Chaudhary further said that the entire Mahila Congress would raise the matter with senior Congress leadership.
“The entire Mahila Congress—we will all go to Rahul ji, and we will report their conduct and the behaviour of their people,” she said.
Amid the confrontation, Rai’s supporters were seen raising slogans and protesting with shoes in their hands. The incident created an unruly atmosphere at the party headquarters at a time when Congress leaders and workers had gathered for the formal transition of leadership in the state unit.
Ajay Rai initially decides to leave
The confrontation reportedly left Ajay Rai upset. Following the incident, he initially decided to leave the party headquarters without attending the formal charge-handover ceremony.
However, Congress working president Imran Masood and incoming state president Aradhana Mishra intervened and sought to defuse the situation. Following their intervention, Rai returned to the party office and formally handed over charge to Mishra.
The incident nevertheless became a major point of discussion among party workers and leaders present at the headquarters, highlighting the factional tensions surrounding the change in leadership of the Uttar Pradesh Congress.
Rai seeks Mamta Chaudhary’s expulsion
Following the clash, Ajay Rai raised the matter with senior Congress leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, Aradhana Mishra and Imran Masood.
Rai reportedly told the leaders that the confrontation had harmed the Congress party’s image and could adversely affect the atmosphere within the organisation. He also demanded the expulsion of Mamta Chaudhary from the Congress over the incident.
According to party sources, Rai was assured that the matter would be examined. However, no formal disciplinary action against Chaudhary has been announced so far.
Women Congress leader gives a different account
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Mahila Congress vice-president Sheela Mishra offered a different version of events.
According to Mishra, women Congress workers had gathered at the party headquarters to welcome both the outgoing and incoming state presidents. She claimed that some men subsequently asked the women to move aside.
Mishra said Mamta Chaudhary merely reminded them that the women workers had also assembled to welcome the new state president. She further alleged that banners put up by women workers at the venue had already been damaged.
Her account presents the confrontation as a dispute that arose amid arrangements for the welcome of the incoming leadership, rather than an incident initiated solely by Chaudhary.
Leadership transition completed despite clash
Despite the ugly confrontation, the formal leadership transition was eventually completed. Aradhana Mishra (Mona) formally assumed charge as the new Uttar Pradesh Congress president, while Imran Masood took charge as the working president.
