Kangana wins Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections

Agencies,Mumbai, June 5: Kangana Ranaut emerged as the winner in the Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024 for the Mandi constituency, securing the seat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kangana led by a margin of 71,663 votes, garnering 73,482 votes in total. Her closest competitor, INC’s Vikramaditya Singh, trailed behind with 44,4719 votes.

The Mandi Lok Sabha constituency in Himachal Pradesh witnessed a high-profile electoral battle in the 2024 general elections, with Kangana Ranaut of the BJP facing off against Vikramaditya Singh, the son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

The Mandi constituency went to the polls in the seventh and final phase of the elections on June 1, 2024. Comprising 17 assembly segments, Mandi has traditionally been a Congress stronghold. However, in the 2019 elections, Ram Swaroop Sharma of the BJP won the seat by a significant margin of over 43%, securing 68.75% of the votes.

Shortly after it became evident that Ranaut had secured the Mandi seat with a margin of over 55,000 votes, the actor told ANI that Himachal Pradesh is her “birthplace,” and she will continue to serve the people of the state. “So, I am not going anywhere. Perhaps, someone else will have to pack their bags and leave. I am not going anywhere,” she said.

Ranaut had previously stated to Aaj Tak that if elected, she would quit the film industry.

Known for her outspoken and controversial nature, Ranaut campaigned extensively in the Mandi constituency, often drawing large crowds. She received the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders.

Ranaut began her acting career in 2006 with the film Gangster and gradually emerged as one of the finest Hindi film artistes, winning four National Film Awards. Her peak at the box office was between 2014-2015 when her films like “Queen”, backed by Anurag Kashyap, and “Tanu Weds Manu Returns,” directed by Anand L Rai, went on to become huge hits.

Ranaut’s rise in popularity ran parallel to her image as a fierce woman in the industry, unafraid to call out those in power, questioning the nepotistic nature of the industry, its cliques, and hierarchy.