'It's Easy to Blame When You Lose': Nara Lokesh Backs EC at India Today South Conclave

The Congress party has carried out major leadership overhauls in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. In Punjab, former hockey Olympian Bhagat Singh replaces Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the state Congress chief amid ongoing factional tensions between internal camps. The shift follows Sachin Pilot taking charge as the All India Congress Committee in charge of the state. In Uttar Pradesh, Rampur Khas MLA Aradhana Mishra has been appointed state chief in place of Ajay Rai, while MP Imran Masood has been named working president.

The appointments in Uttar Pradesh come as seat-sharing discussions between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party continue, reflecting an effort to build a wider social coalition. Opposing political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party, criticised the organisational changes, alleging that internal rivalries and chief ministerial ambitions will continue to persist despite the reset.