GORAKHPUR: A telephonic conversation between BJP councillor Vishwajit Tripathi and Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, recorded during the recent spell of heavy rain and waterlogging in the city, has triggered political debate after a video of the exchange went viral on social media.In the video, Tripathi is heard raising concerns over widespread waterlogging across the city and asking the MP about his whereabouts. Ravi Kishan replies that he is at Taramandal and asks the councillor where he is. Tripathi then refers to waterlogging in several areas and alleges that regulators, including those at Tarkulahi and near Palm Paradise, were not functioning properly, seeking the MP’s intervention.The MP responds that he would look into the matter, saying he was already monitoring the situation. During the conversation, Ravi Kishan is also heard jokingly asking Tripathi whether he had joined the Samajwadi Party. Tripathi, in turn, asks the MP whether he had joined the BSP. The exchange later became the focus of political discussions online.After the video surfaced, social media platforms witnessed intense debate and speculation over the conversation. When contacted, Tripathi said he did not know who had recorded or circulated the video. He said that during the heavy rainfall, he was sitting with residents and had called the MP because officials of the irrigation department were beyond the reach of municipal representatives and were not responding to their concerns.Responding to the controversy, Ravi Kishan said he was personally on the streets monitoring the situation and coordinating with the administration.He described the rainfall as unprecedented, saying Gorakhpur had not witnessed such heavy rain in nearly two decades and that several parts of Uttar Pradesh had been affected by exceptionally high precipitation.The MP said the priority during the crisis was to address public grievances and restore normalcy. He added that such situations should not be politicised and that efforts should focus on solving problems rather than seeking political advantage.The development also drew a reaction from the Samajwadi Party. District president Brijesh Gautam said the party’s doors remained open to those who were dissatisfied with BJP policies and wished to oppose the ruling party.Referring to Tripathi, he noted that the councillor had earlier been elected on a Samajwadi Party ticket before later joining the BJP.BJP regional general secretary Satendra Sinha said any action in the matter would be decided by the party’s disciplinary committee. However, expressing his personal view, he said the issue should have been raised within the party forum rather than on social media. He termed the heavy rainfall a natural calamity and said party workers and government agencies had worked throughout the night to tackle the situation. According to him, water was pumped out from affected localities overnight and most areas were free from waterlogging by Sunday morning after the rain subsided.
