MP Report Card | A look at Mandi’s 3-term MP, Congress’s Pratibha Singh

However, the party high command opted to appoint Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as the CM. Pratibha is known for her straight forward approach in politics, preferring not to mince her words.

Insiders said that during a recent political upheaval in the state, she expressed dissatisfaction with the current CM’s governance, highlighting the sidelining of elected leaders from the Virbhadra camp. This was conveyed to the observers dispatched by the Congress high command from Delhi to Shimla to address the party’s internal discord. Subsequently, CM Sukhu appointed those leaders to key positions within the government.

She was born into the Keonthal royal family of Himachal Pradesh and is the second wife of Virbhadra Singh, who was the tutelary king of Rampur Bushahr at the time.

Any private member bill

None

Accessibility of MP

Locals said that her visits to the Mandi constituency was limited, but they appreciate her easy accessibility at Holy Lodge on Jakhu Hill. Pratibha Singh displayed active engagement in her constituency when a natural disaster struck Mandi last year. She presides over all DISHA Committee meetings at every district headquarters in the constituency, overseeing quarterly scrutiny and monitoring of centrally sponsored schemes and MPLAD Works.

Constituency profile

The Mandi parliamentary constituency is the largest constituency area-wise in Himachal Pradesh, covering 17 Assembly seats — Bharmour, Lahaul & Spiti, Manali, Kullu, Banjar, Anni, Karsog, Sundernagar, Nachan, Seraj, Darang, Jogindernagar, Dharampur, Mandi, Balh, Sarkaghat, Rohru and Kinnaur — across six districts (Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul & Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba, and Shimla) of the total 12. Its nine Assembly Constituencies are in Mandi, one each in Kinnaur and Lahaul& Spiti, and Bharmour of Chamba district.

Additionally, it includes all 4 Assembly constituencies of Kullu district and 1 (Rampur) of Shimla district. Mandi itself is a city steeped in mythology, religion, and culture. Often referred to as the ‘Varanasi of the Hills,’it is home to numerous ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Brahmin and Rajput vote banks play crucial roles in electoral politics, along with the ex-servicemen community.

Candidates in fray

Congress has fielded Vikramaditya Singh and the BJP has given ticket to actor Kangana Ranaut. The BSP has fielded a retired joint director from the state agriculture department, Prakash Chand Bhardwaj.