The verbal altercation escalated to fist fight between the two leaders in presence of police officials, and state ministers and engineers.
Reports say the argument broke out over placement of names on a foundation stone of a project. Tripathi was apparently miffed with an engineer over his name not being cast on the stone to which Baghel said that he (Baghel) be asked as the site falls in his constituency.
As the argument heated up, Tripathi hurled expletives at Baghel and subsequently picked up his shoes to hit. The two then engaged came to blows as tempers flared up with people around appearing inept in pacifying the situation.
Reports suggest the two BJP leaders the animosity between the two leaders was not a recent one. They shared an acrimonious past and finally it precipitated into a physical fight in today’s meeting. Their supporters also tried to rough each other up during the ruckus.
Baghel and his supporters later protested outside the District Magistrate office demanding arrest of Tripathi.
UP minister Ashutosh Tandon and district magistrate Ravish Kumar Gupta were among those who attended the meeting.
Calling it a “shameful incident”, Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Tripathi said “people should take note of how these elected leaders of BJP are behaving.”
Sharad Tripath is son of Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Former President of the BJP State Unit of Uttar Pradesh. Rakesh Singh Baghel represents the Menhdawal constituency of Uttar Pradesh.