In strong political debut, actor Kangana Ranaut defeats Congress candidate and wins Mandi Lok Sabha seat for the BJP

Hours before, the four-time National Award winner had shared an Instagram post thanking the people from her constituency for her forthcoming victory, news agency PTI reported. “Heartfelt gratitude to all the people of Mandi for this love and trust… This victory belongs to all of you, this is the victory of your trust in Prime Minister Modi and BJP, this is the victory of Sanatan and in the honour of Mandi,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, Singh said that although he did not succeed in the elections, he is fully dedicated to his vision of the development of the Mandi constituency and will fulfil it at all costs, PTI reported.

He expressed his gratitude to all voters, who supported him wholeheartedly in the elections. He also congratulated Ranaut for her victory.

The Mandi Lok Sabha constituency in Himachal Pradesh witnessed a high-profile electoral battle in the 2024 general elections, with Bollywood actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut of the BJP taking on Congress veteran Vikramaditya Singh. The constituency went to the polls in the seventh and final phase of the elections on June 1, 2024.

Mandi, comprising 17 assembly segments, has traditionally been a Congress stronghold; however, in the 2019 elections, Ram Swaroop Sharma of the BJP won the seat by a massive margin of over 43%, securing 68.75% of the votes.

This year, in the 2024 Mandi Lok Sabha elections, the entry of Kangana Ranaut, known for her outspoken and controversial nature, added an interesting twist to the contest. Ranaut, who was making her electoral debut, campaigned extensively in the constituency, often drawing large crowds. She received the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders.

On the other hand, Vikramaditya Singh, the son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, relied on his family’s legacy and the Congress party’s organisational strength to mount a challenge.

As the seventh phase of polling concluded, the voter turnout in Mandi was recorded at 62%, slightly lower than the 2019 figure of 73.6%. The India Today-Axis My India Exit Poll 2024 predicted a victory for Kangana Ranaut, suggesting that her star power and the BJP’s organisational might have tipped the scales in her favour.

As India awaits the final results on Tuesday, June 4, the Mandi contest has emerged as one of the most closely watched battles, potentially impacting both the BJP and the Congress in Himachal Pradesh.