“The BJP MLA holding a Minister from his own BJP government hostage indicates that the BJP government’s MLAs are now poised to lose the next election,” Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav said. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Annoyed over the delay in drinking water projects, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Charkhari under Mahoba district, Brijbhushan Rajput, on Friday (January 30, 2026) confronted Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, with village heads, accompanying the MLA, allegedly attempted to stop the minister’s convoy by parking vehicles in the middle of the road.
The MLA expressed dissatisfaction over the water projects in his constituency and dilapidated condition of roads as villagers are facing problems due to roads dug under the Jal Jeevan Mission. “What reply should I give to people, who come to me,” he asks angrily.
The MLA’s supporters clashed with local administrative officials, including the Circle Officer (CO) Sadar. The Minister was in Mahoba to attend a programme organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Amid the heated exchange, the Minister tried to calm down tempers and pacified the MLA, supporters.
After the video of the incident went viral, the Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav targeted the BJP government, alleging that BJP ministers or MLAs are busy making money and grabbing land, with none of them are working for the public or for development needs.
“Big news: Freedmen become hostages. News: BJP MLA Brijbhushan Rajput held Minister Swatantra Dev Singh hostage over the poor condition of roads in the area, the drinking water crisis in villages and incomplete works of the Jal Jeevan Mission. Opinion: We’ve already said that not only the BJP’s ‘double engine’, but even its coaches are colliding with each other. Be it BJP ministers or MLAs, busy making money and grabbing land, none of them are working for the public or for development. Therefore, to avoid public anger, they are blaming each other. The BJP MLA holding a Minister from his own BJP government hostage indicates that the BJP government’s MLAs are now poised to lose the next election. However, don’t assume this is a fight between the two; in reality, it’s just a sample; the situation is the same in every assembly constituency. This time, the BJP won’t even find candidates to contest the elections. The BJP’s power has gone off track,” wrote Mr. Yadav, on X, along with the video of the incident.
Published – January 31, 2026 03:38 am IST
