Odisha: BJP corporator caught dancing with ‘gun’ during Ganesh idol immersion, video goes viral

BHUBANESWAR: A viral video showing a BJP corporator from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation dancing with what appears to be a gun during a Ganesh idol immersion procession has sparked controversy and embarrassment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha.

The BJP unseated the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in state assembly elections earlier this year.

The corporator, Arup Narayan Rout, also known as Jeevan Rout, was filmed dancing with the object during the procession in the Unit IX area on Wednesday evening. The video has quickly spread across social media, drawing public attention and concern, especially given the festive season, when authorities are already on high alert for potential criminal activity.

In response to the controversy, Rout dismissed the claim that he was carrying a gun. He explained that the object in question was a wooden plank shaped like a gun, handed to him by someone while he was immersed in the festivities.

“It was a wooden object that happened to resemble a gun. I was lost in the joy of dancing when someone handed it to me. I didn’t realise how it looked until it was too late, and by then, people had already filmed it and shared it on social media,” said Rout.

He further suggested that the viral video was part of a conspiracy against him.

“Had I known it looked like a gun, I would never have held it. My political opponents are behind this attempt to tarnish my image,” Rout added.