Gorakhpur SP Press Conference Erupts in Violence Over Seating Dispute

A press conference organized by the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Gorakhpur turned violent on Saturday afternoon when a dispute over seating escalated into a physical altercation. The incident involved Nagina Sahni, a former district president, who was reportedly slapped by Kamlesh Singh, the son of party leader Anshuman Singh, as tensions flared in the crowded venue around 2:45 PM.

The press conference was convened by SP district president Brajesh Gautam to discuss the party's upcoming 'Loktantra Bachao Saptah' campaign, scheduled from October 2 to 8. However, the atmosphere quickly soured when Anshuman Singh arrived with supporters and demanded seating in the already packed hall. This led to a heated argument, which soon turned physical, culminating in the alleged slap that was captured on video and circulated on social media.

In the aftermath, Anshuman Singh claimed that the incident was being manipulated to damage his reputation, suggesting that internal political rivals were behind the controversy. Conversely, Sahni accused Singh's supporters of aggressive behavior, alleging that some had entered the venue with illegal weapons, further escalating the situation.

SP district president Brajesh Gautam stated that the incident would be reported to party chief Akhilesh Yadav, with the leadership expected to determine the next steps. SP leader Kajal Nishad expressed regret over the altercation and urged party members to maintain composure in future gatherings.

This incident in Gorakhpur adds to a series of recent political slap controversies, including a separate incident involving Delhi's PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, who was filmed allegedly slapping a young man during a road inspection. As political tensions rise, the SP's response to the Gorakhpur incident remains to be seen, with potential implications for party unity and public perception ahead of the upcoming elections.