Ajay Rai says he will not quit Congress as party panel probes Lucknow office clash
Former UP Congress chief Ajay Rai has rejected speculation that he will leave the party, as a five-member Congress panel examines a clash at the state headquarters on 11 October.
Former Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai has rejected speculation that he will leave the party, after a clash at the state Congress headquarters in Lucknow on 11 October involving his supporters and corporator Mamta Chaudhary. The party has set up a five-member inquiry committee, according to Times Now Navbharat, Aaj Tak and Outlook.
Leadership change
Congress replaced Rai as state president with Aradhana Mishra “Mona” ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, UNI reported on 3 October. Rai told reporters in Varanasi that political posts are temporary and congratulated Mishra, according to UNI.
The clash
The incident took place on Sunday, 11 October, during the handover ceremony at the party office, Amar Ujala reported. According to the newspaper, Chaudhary questioned which president was arriving when Rai reached the office; pushing and verbal abuse followed, and a worker pulled out a shoe.
The two sides have given different accounts. Rai said some people wanted to set a “wrong tradition” and that those who abused him and his supporters could not be well-wishers of the party, Amar Ujala reported. Aaj Tak reported that Rai complained to Pramod Tiwari, Aradhana Mishra and working president Imran Masood, seeking her expulsion.
Chaudhary, a four-time corporator and Dalit leader, said: “I was not instigating anyone,” and asked, “But what was the need to get shoes and slippers thrown at us?” according to Outlook. She described the incident as an attack on Dalits and women, the magazine reported. Aaj Tak reported that she said she would complain to Rahul Gandhi, and that the high command had asked her to explain herself in Delhi.
Rai’s response and inquiry
On 13 October, Rai said he would stay in the party and called himself “कांग्रेस का सच्चा सिपाही” (a true soldier of the Congress), Times Now Navbharat reported. He ruled out joining the BJP or the Samajwadi Party but said he would not compromise his self-respect, according to the report. He said no member of the committee had contacted him yet.
- Inquiry panel headed by former state chief Brijlal Khabri
- Report due within a week, Khabri said (Outlook)
- Rai contested Varanasi against Narendra Modi in 2014, 2019 and 2024 (Times Now Navbharat)
Sources: Times Now Navbharat, Aaj Tak, Outlook, Amar Ujala, UNI
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