After shoe fight with party MP, BJP MLA stages protest

BJP MLA Rakesh Singh Baghel claimed that his protest is not against Tripathi but against the administration which resorted to baton-charge on BJP workers. Baghel got into a fist fight with MP Sharad Tripathi during an official meeting yesterday, who sat in protest at the District Magistrate office.

Sant Kabit Nagar: BJP MLA Rakesh Singh Baghel, who got into a fist fight with MP Sharad Tripathi during an official meeting on Wednesday, sat on protest at the District Magistrate office here.

However, Baghel claimed that his protest is not against Tripathi but against the administration which resorted to baton-charge on BJP workers.

"We had an altercation over the placement of names on foundation stone of a road project. We have no demands, but administration baton-charged BJP workers with lights switched off, I am sitting in protest against that. We are not protesting against Sharad Tripathi" said BJP MLA Rakesh Singh Baghel.

Both MP and the MLA from BJP on Wednesday came to blows during a meeting to discuss developmental projects here. Initially, both of them had a verbal argument over the placement of names on a foundation stone of some development project.

However, the argument soon turned ugly as the two leaders got into jostling, pushing each other and ultimately fisticuffs. Tripathi hit Baghel with his footwear to which the MLA also retaliated by slapping the MP.

The incident took place during a meeting of the District Action Plan Committee at the Collectorate where various representatives and officials were present.

There have been reports that the two have not shared a very cordial relationship in the past as well.

An eye witness said that the incident began with a heated argument between the MP and the MLA which snowballed into a physical fight.

BJP state president Mahendra Nath Pandey told ANI, "We have taken cognizance of this condem

nable incident and both have been summoned to Lucknow. Strict disciplinary action will be taken.