Newsmatro
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, who is making her foray into politics as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Mandi seat in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, has expressed unwavering belief in the triumph of the saffron party in the impending polls.
Asserting her confidence, the actor-turned-politician declared, “Bhagwa hi lehraya tha, Bhagwa hi lehrayega” (there was a saffron wave, there will be a saffron wave).
Campaigning alongside her party colleague Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur on Tuesday, Ranaut observed the palpable energy and enthusiasm among the people, attributing it to their evident affection for the BJP.
Ranaut’s nomination from her hometown Mandi has injected a new dynamic into the electoral landscape, particularly in a constituency historically dominated by the Congress.
To counter the BJP’s challenge, the Congress has nominated Vikramaditya Singh, the son of the late former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, as its candidate from Mandi.
The Mandi constituency, long considered a bastion of the Virbhadra family, witnessed heightened political activity following an Assembly bye-election in 2021 after the demise of BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma.
Currently represented by Pratibha Devi Singh, Sharma’s widow, the seat is pivotal in shaping the political narrative in Himachal Pradesh.
Scheduled for June 1, the Lok Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh coincide with polling for six Assembly seats left vacant following the disqualification of six dissident Congress MLAs. With the BJP eyeing a repeat of its 2019 success, the electoral battleground in the state is poised for intense competition.
Responding to Ranaut’s active campaign trail, Pratibha Singh, the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, expressed optimism about the Congress candidate’s prospects in Mandi.
Emphasizing the party’s longstanding presence and rapport with the electorate, Singh affirmed confidence in garnering voter support and securing victory.
Acknowledging Ranaut’s campaign efforts, Singh reiterated the Congress’s commitment to connecting with constituents and earning their trust, underscoring the enduring bond between the party and the people of Himachal Pradesh.