BJP Councillor, Ravi Kishan Spar Over Waterlogging In Viral Video
27 Sept 2026 3:12 PM IST27 Sept 2026 3:12 PM IST
Phone Exchange Over Flooded Areas Triggers Political Debate In Gorakhpur
A viral video of a telephonic exchange between BJP councillor Vishwajit Tripathi and Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan over waterlogging has triggered a political controversy.
A telephonic conversation between BJP councillor Vishwajit Tripathi and Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, recorded amid heavy rain and waterlogging in the city, has triggered a political debate after the video of the exchange went viral.In the video, Tripathi is heard raising concerns about waterlogging in several parts of the city and asking Kishan about his whereabouts. The MP replies that he was in Taramandal and asks the councillor where he was.
Tripathi then refers to waterlogging in various areas and alleges that floodwater regulators at Tarkulahi and near Palm Paradise were not functioning properly and seeks Kishan's intervention in the matter. Kishan responds that he would look into the issue, saying he was already in the area and monitoring the situation.
During the conversation, the MP is also heard referring to Tripathi as "Brahaman Devta", apparently in jest, and asked whether he had joined the Samajwadi Party. Tripathi responds by asking Kishan whether he had joined the BSP. The exchange became the subject of political discussion after the video surfaced on social media.
Tripathi said he did not know who had recorded or circulated the conversation. He said he had called Kishan while sitting with local residents during the heavy rainfall because irrigation department officials were not accessible to municipal representatives and were not responding to their concerns.
Kishan, meanwhile, said he was personally on the streets monitoring the situation and coordinating with the administration. Describing the rainfall as unprecedented, he said Gorakhpur had not witnessed such heavy rain in nearly two decades and several parts of Uttar Pradesh had received exceptionally high rainfall.
The MP said the priority during the crisis was to address people's grievances and restore normalcy, adding that such situations should not be politicised and efforts should instead focus on resolving problems.
The controversy also drew a reaction from the Samajwadi Party. Its district president Brijesh Gautam said the party's doors were open to people dissatisfied with BJP policies and seeking to oppose the ruling party. Referring to Tripathi, he said the councillor had earlier been elected on an SP ticket before joining the BJP.
BJP regional general secretary Satendra Sinha said any action in the matter would be decided by the party's disciplinary committee. In his personal view, however, he said the issue should have been raised on the party forum rather than on social media.
Sinha described the heavy rainfall as a natural calamity and said BJP workers and government agencies had worked through the night to deal with the situation. Water was pumped out of affected localities overnight and most areas were free of waterlogging by Sunday morning after the rain subsided, he said.
( Source : PTI )
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