Lucknow: Chaotic scenes unfolded at the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) headquarters on Sunday as supporters of outgoing state president Ajay Rai clashed with a group associated with Congress women state president and councilor Mamta Chaudhary over clearing a passage for him, triggering a heated exchange and a scuffle.The confrontation occurred shortly before newly appointed UP Congress president Aradhana Misra Mona arrived to formally assume charge. The incident delayed her maiden press conference by nearly an hour.According to party workers present at the venue, the dispute began when Rai’s supporters asked people standing near the entrance to make way, saying the state president was arriving. Chaudhary allegedly responded by questioning, “Which president?” provoking an argument between the two groups.The verbal confrontation soon escalated, with supporters from both sides allegedly attacking each other with shoes. Rai’s supporters accused Chaudhary of insulting the outgoing president and demanded her expulsion from the party.Sources among party workers claimed Rai was upset by the incident and initially decided to leave the headquarters without participating in the formal handover ceremony.Congress’s Pramod Tiwari tried to pacify Rai, urging him to attend the ceremony and hand over charge to Misra.Following requests by Tiwari, Congress MP Imran Masood and Misra, Rai formally handed over charge to his successor.However, he left the venue soon after and did not attend Misra’s press conference.Reacting to the controversy, Rai said, “There are certainly some people who are indulging in anti-party activities, and action should be taken against them.”However, Chaudhary rejected allegations that she insulted Rai or made any objectionable remarks. “We were waiting to welcome the new president. When Rai arrived, his supporters asked us to move aside, and I was helping women make way. Suddenly, Rai shouted at me asking me to stay within my limits,” she said.Chaudhary alleged that Rai’s supporters assaulted women workers and threw shoes and slippers.Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Mahila Congress vice-president Sheela Mishra claimed that some men asked them to give way and then asked them to stay within their limits.Describing Rai as a respected leader, she said women Congress workers wanted him to receive a bigger responsibility within the party.
