Election results 2024: Kangana Ranaut leading from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha seat, show early trends

Kangana Ranaut is leading from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha constituency against Congress' Vikramaditya Singh, early election results show.

Updated on: Jun 4, 2024, 09:12:36 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Actor Kangana Ranaut, star of movies such as Queen and Tanu Weds Manu, is leading from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh on her electoral debut. Ranaut, no stranger to controversy, is going up against Congress’ Vikramaditya Singh, the son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Thirty-four -year-old Singh has contested two assembly elections in the past but this is his first bid for a parliamentary seat.

The Mandi Lok Sabha seat was won by Bharatiya Janata Party’s Ram Swaroop Sharma in 2014 and 2019, with a vote share of 49.97% and 68.75% respectively.

BJP’s Mandi Lok Sabha candidate Kangana Ranaut (HT File)

However, Sharma’s demise on March 17, 2021 necessitated the byelection and Pratibha Singh, Vikramaditya Singh’s mother, won the seat on a Congress ticket in that November. .

Full

coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024

Ranaut has been a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for years now, but she officially joined the party earlier this year when her candidature was announced.

“My beloved Bharat and Bhartiya Janta’s own party, Bharatiya Janta party (BJP) has always had my unconditional support, today the national leadership of BJP has announced me as their Lok Sabha candidate from my birthplace Himachal Pradesh, Mandi (constituency). I abide by the high command’s decision on contesting the Lok Sabha polls. I feel honoured and elated to officially join the party. I look forward to being a worthy karyakarta and a reliable public servant. Thanks,” Ranuat had written in a social media post on March 24, after her candidature was announced.

Read: How to check poll results on Election Commission's website on June 4? Here is a primer

Ranaut’s great-grandfather, Sarju Singh Ranaut, was an MLA. Her mother, Asha Ranaut, retired as a schoolteacher from Mandi, and her father, Amardeep Ranaut, is a businessman.

Asha Ranaut had once mentioned that the family initially supported the Congress but shifted allegiance to the BJP due to Kangana’s influence.

While campaigning in Mandi, which went to the polls in the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1, Ranaut has sparked a social media row . She claimed that India had become truly independent only in 2014 and expressed her desire for India to become a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

The Lok Sabha polls for 543 seats were held in seven phases starting from April 19, while the last phase was held on June 1. The Bharatiya Janata Party is seeking a rare third term at the Centre with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.