BJP councillor, MP Ravi Kishan trade barbs amid waterlogging

Gorakhpur: 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.