Kangana Ranaut's political journey as the BJP candidate for the Mandi Lok Sabha seat doesn't seem smooth. Discontented BJP factions and the influence of the former royal family could pose significant hurdles in her path.
Maheshwar Singh, ex-president of Himachal BJP and thrice MP from the former royal family of Kullu, has urged party brass to reconsider their decision to grant Ranaut the ticket. Meanwhile, the dissenters who contested independently after being denied BJP's ticket in 2022 have convened a strategic meeting.
Following the nomination of rebel Congressman Ravi Thakur for the Lahaul and Spiti assembly by-election, BJP leader and ex-minister Ram Lal Markanda, along with his supporters, has resigned from the party. Markanda is expected to contest the election with the Congress party.
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Dominance of Royal Families
Mandi parliamentary constituency includes 17 assembly seats, with reservations for eight SC/ST communities. The former royal families have maintained a stronghold in this area, with their descendants winning 13 out of the 19 elections, including two by-elections. As Kangana Ranaut commenced her electoral campaign with a roadshow and rally on Friday, BJP leader Maheshwar Singh pleaded with party superiors to reassess their decision, claiming that Ranaut has 'made no contributions' to the party and that he (Singh) was promised the ticket.
Rebels Show Defiance
'There is ongoing dialogue with BJP top brass to review their decision. I was assured of the ticket earlier,' Singh stated. After Ranaut's candidature announcement, his son Hiteshwar Singh, former BJP Secretary Ram Singh, and ex-MLA Kishori Lal from Anni – all of whom had contested the 2022 assembly election as independents after not securing BJP tickets – aligned with other BJP dissidents for a meeting.
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The state Congress president and current MP from Mandi, Pratibha Singh, has already bowed out of the party ticket race. She stated that ground realities were not favorable and party workers were disillusioned. However, following BJP's declaration of Kangana as their candidate, she changed her stance and said she'd follow Congress' directives.
Good News for Kangana
Speaking to PTI on Friday, she said, 'The people's emotional connection with ex-CM Virbhadra Singh is strong; they always support our family and want someone from us in the election.' Offering solace to Ranaut, BJP leader and Kargil war hero Khushal Thakur has backed her candidacy. He stated, 'I'm supporting Kangana. In this parliamentary area, there are over one lakh ex-servicemen.'
During her first electoral speech on Friday, Ranaut presented herself as Mandi's 'daughter and sister.' She claimed that her Himachali origins make her a constant target. 'I've built a small temple in my village and a house in Manali. I struggled and worked hard to create a place for myself,' she stated, indirectly attacking Pratibha Singh and Vikramaditya Singh by saying, 'It's not like my father or husband is the Chief Minister, and I've stepped into politics.'
