BJP Councilor Vishwajit Tripathi Meets Akhilesh Yadav After Ravi Kishan Clash
Gorakhpur BJP councilor Vishwajit Tripathi meets SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, alleging BJP in Gorakhpur is 'hijacked' after clash with Ravi Kishan.
In a surprising political turn in Uttar Pradesh, Vishwajit Tripathi, a BJP Councilor from Betiahata in Gorakhpur, has met with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. This meeting comes on the heels of a public dispute between the councilor and Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, signaling a growing rift within the local saffron ranks.
Campaigning for the Opposition
Immediately after returning to Gorakhpur from his visit to Lucknow, Tripathi did not waste any time in demonstrating his shift in allegiance. He began actively campaigning for Sanjay Tripathi, a former BJP member who recently defected to the Samajwadi Party to contest the teacher elections.
Allegations of a 'Hijacked' Party
Speaking candidly to the media, Vishwajit Tripathi launched a scathing attack on the internal functioning of the BJP in Gorakhpur. He alleged that the party organization in the city has been "hijacked" and is now operating under the heavy influence of the Hindu Yuva Vahini.
Tripathi claimed that the party has abandoned the core principles established by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. As evidence of this internal decay, he pointed toward the treatment of former national general secretary Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, asserting that Agarwal was frequently humiliated by the local organization—a sentiment Tripathi claims is evident in the leader's own social media posts.
Dismissing Central Influence
When questioned about the role of BJP leader Vinod Tawde, Tripathi was dismissive. While acknowledging that Tawde may hold power in Delhi, he insisted that such influence does not translate to Gorakhpur. "No one has any control in Gorakhpur because the BJP here is hijacked," he remarked.
The Shift Toward Samajwadi Party
Tripathi praised Akhilesh Yadav as a leader capable of representing all communities. He made the provocative claim that Brahmins in Uttar Pradesh are currently facing persecution and are consequently shifting their support toward the Samajwadi Party to ensure its return to power.
Criticism of Local Governance and Corruption
Beyond party politics, the councilor highlighted a severe lack of development in Gorakhpur over the last nine years. He pointed to the city's failing infrastructure, noting that streets and wards are still submerged even during minor rainfall.
Tripathi further alleged that:
- Government officials are operating without restraint.
- Corruption has become rampant within the administration.
- The state of education and governance is in decline, citing the recent humiliation of Chittaranjan Mishra, the former Vice-Chancellor of Wardha and President of the University Teachers' Association, as a prime example.