UP MP-MLA fight: BJP summons Sharad Tripathi, Rakesh Singh Baghel to Lucknow

GORAKHPUR: BJP's

Sant Kabir Nagar MP

Sharad Tripathi and Mehdawal MLA

Rakesh Singh Baghel

on Wednesday exchanged blows at the district collectorate after arguments in presence of minister in-charge of the district, senior administrative officials and several public representatives.


Later, a video of the incident went viral on the social media.






During a meeting of the district planning committee, Tripathi and Baghel broke into fisticuffs after heated argument over a foundation stone of a road in which the MLA's name was mentioned but the MP's name was missing. The trouble began when the MP expressed his displeasure over the fact that his name was missing from project, allegedly holding the MLA responsible for it.


The situation took a turn for the worse when Tripathi took off his shoes and thrashed Baghel even as some of those present at the meeting venue rolled their cellphone cameras to capture the action. Thereafter Baghel too attacked Tripathi as a police officer intervened to separate the two. As the information about the incident spread, scores of supporters of the two leaders gathered outside the meeting hall raising slogans against each other. In the video, minister in-charge of the district, Ashutosh Tondon, could be seen trying to pacify the two leaders but in vain.

BJP district president Set Bhan Rai, when contacted by TOI, said, "The minister called me and told me about the clash between the MP and the MLA during a meeting when I was in a meeting somewhere else. The state president has also called me and asked me about the incident. I am going to the spot." In Lucknow, BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey told reporters that the two leaders have been summoned to the state capital and strict disciplinary action will be initiated.