Newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’, who replaced Ajai Rai, has said her party will continue to lead the political fight against the Election Commission, while maintaining that discussions on seat sharing with the Samajwadi Party will be decided by the central leadership.
Speaking on the ongoing political debate over the Election Commission, Aradhana Mishra, who is a three-time Congress MLA from Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh, said the institution had lost its “validity and integrity”.
Leaders from both parties have made statements and counter-statements on the number of seats they expect to contest. On the Samajwadi Party’s performance in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress’s role in helping the former win 37 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 election, Mishra strongly credited Rahul Gandhi and the Congress campaign. Her comments come at a time when there is an ongoing debate between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party over seat sharing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Speaking on the ongoing political debate over the Election Commission, Mishra, who is a three-time Congress MLA from Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh, said the institution had lost its “validity and integrity”. She said the objections raised by two Election Commissioners were a historic development and something that had never happened before. Mishra said the Congress would take the issue forward and lead the political campaign on the matter. Asked about the possibility of a seat-sharing formula between the Congress and the SP, Mishra said a decision would be taken very soon, but the final call would be made by the central leadership of both parties. She said leaders would keep changing, but all Congress workers were “honest and strong soldiers” of the party and had the same goal.
