Clash breaks out at UP Congress headquarters during new State President's swearing-in

Lucknow: A clash between supporters of former Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai and newly appointed State president Aradhana Misra Mona marred the swearing-in ceremony at the party's State headquarters here on Sunday, exposing internal rifts within the unit.

The altercation, marked by heated exchanges and pushing and shoving among party workers, continued for around half an hour and created chaos at the Congress office. A video purportedly showing the incident has been widely circulated on social media.

Rai arrived at the headquarters with his supporters to attend the ceremony, where Aradhana Misra Mona was sworn in as the new State Congress president and Imran Masood as Working President.

During the event, a disagreement reportedly broke out between Rai and a woman party leader during a conversation. Rai then left the office in anger, following which his supporters demanded that the woman leader be removed from her post and tender an apology.

They said Rai would return to the State Congress office only after their demands were met.

Some people also alleged that women were treated indecently during the altercation, though the claims could not be independently verified.

Rai later alleged that he had been mistreated at the event.

As tensions escalated, senior leaders intervened to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. Rajya Sabha members Pramod Tiwari and Imran Masood stepped in to control the workers and restore order at the headquarters.

Aradhana Misra Mona also reportedly tried to pacify Rai and defuse tensions between the two sides.

Rai eventually returned to the State Congress office after Pramod Tiwari assured him that the matter would be addressed.

(Inputs from IANS)