sOURCE: THE QUINT
BJP Lok Sabha MP from Sant Kabir Nagar Sharad Tripathi and party MLA from Mehdawal Rakesh Singh Baghel exchanged blows at a meeting in Uttar Pradesh. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
In the video, Tripathi is seen hitting Baghel with his shoe following an argument. The argument broke out over placement of names on a foundation stone of a project. Baghel hit back landing a few punches at the Lok Sabha MP before security personnel and other BJP functionaries intervened and separated them.
Sant Kabir Nagar: A BJP MP and an MLA exchanged blows in full public view on Wednesday evening after an argument broke out over the placement of names on a foundation stone of a project in Sant Kabir Nagar.
Several videos of the scuffle were shot by onlookers and have gone viral on social media websites.
The videos show BJP MP Sharad Tripathi losing his cool at party colleague and MLA Rakesh Singh because his name was missing from the foundation stone for a local road. The MLA responded that it was his decision.
They were attending a meeting of District Planning Committee in the Collectorate Auditorium at Sant Kabir Nagar, nearly 200 km from Lucknow.
After a verbal duel, the MP approached the MLA, who was seated with other party members around a round table, removed his shoe and started hitting him with it, much to the shock of everyone present there.
Incensed by the MP’s actions, the MLA got up and hit back at the MP. The two then rained blows at each other before other party members could intervene.
Soon after, the ministers left the meeting and returned to Lucknow. Both the parliamentarian and the MLA have not responded to media queries so far.
UP BJP chief MN Pandey said the party has taken cognizance of this “condemnable incident” and both have been summoned to Lucknow. “Strict disciplinary action will be taken,” he said.