Kanpur, Sept. 13 -- A video purportedly showing Kanpur's Kidwai Nagar BJP MLA Mahesh Trivedi boasting about commissions from constituency development funds and urging Hindus to keep swords at home for self-defence has gone viral, causing a political controversy.

The undated clip, believed to have been recorded during a party meeting, has drawn sharp criticism from Opposition leaders while the legislator has sought to play down the remarks as misconstrued.

In the video, filmed during a meeting in Kanpur's Barra, Trivedi is heard telling party workers that while legislators enjoy financial benefits, grassroots workers are left empty-handed.

"We, as legislators, get at least 10 per cent commission from the MLA fund. To be honest, that is ...