Munish Sood
Mandi
As the political temperature rises in the run-up to the fiercely contested Mandi Municipal Corporation elections, one question is increasingly being asked across political circles and among voters alike — why has Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut remained completely absent from the campaign trail so far?
The question has gained further significance after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu himself entered the electoral battlefield, signaling that the Congress views the Mandi civic elections as far more than a routine municipal contest. Political observers are already describing the election as a “semi-final” ahead of the next Assembly battle in Himachal Pradesh.
On the BJP side, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has virtually taken full command of the campaign. From public meetings and door-to-door outreach to ward-level interactions and strategy sessions, Jai Ram has been extensively campaigning across Mandi city in an effort to retain the BJP’s political dominance in the region.
Yet, despite the high political stakes, Kangana Ranaut — arguably the BJP’s most high-profile face from Himachal at the national level — has not been seen campaigning even for a single day.
The reasons remain unclear.
Has the BJP high command deliberately kept her away from the campaign? Or does the party leadership believe Jai Ram Thakur alone is capable of steering the BJP to victory without requiring the star power of its celebrity MP?
Political insiders are unwilling to comment openly, but the absence has certainly triggered discussion.
Interestingly, Kangana was actively deployed by the BJP during recent election campaigns in states like West Bengal and Assam, where she drew significant crowds and received considerable attention for her aggressive and energetic speeches. Party workers had then described her campaigning as highly effective, especially among first-time voters and young audiences.
That is precisely why many local BJP supporters are now surprised that she has not yet been brought into the Mandi campaign — particularly when the Congress has fielded some of its strongest political faces in the region.
Adding to the contrast is the aggressive campaign being led by senior Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, who was Kangana Ranaut’s principal rival in the Lok Sabha elections. Vikramaditya has been continuously touring Mandi’s wards and neighborhoods, meeting voters and engaging in grassroots campaigning day and night.
Meanwhile, the winning BJP MP from Mandi has remained noticeably missing from the local political scene.
Political analysts say Kangana’s presence may or may not dramatically alter electoral arithmetic, but her arrival would certainly energize BJP workers and excite her large fan following — particularly among young voters, many of whom connect more with personalities than traditional politics.
With only a few days left before polling, it remains to be seen whether the BJP eventually brings its star MP into the campaign — or whether the party chooses to fight this crucial civic battle without one of its biggest crowd-pullers.
