Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy a thorn in BJP’s side?
Enjoying Modi, Nadda’s backing, actor undermining Jai Ram’s authority
MANDI: BJP parliamentary constituency candidate from Mandi Kangana Ranaut has increasingly become a thorn in the side for her own party members. Kangana’s antics and statements often dominate public discussions. Whether it’s her controversial remarks from the stage or surprising daily activities, she consistently draws attention — often to the BJP’s detriment.
Kangana’s penchant for controversy is well-documented, but she seems to have forgotten that the real world differs vastly from the film industry. She appears to believe that reality operates just like the movies. Despite receiving the party ticket two months ago, she still struggles to grasp its significance and the responsibilities that come with it. Lacking both party knowledge and organisational experience, she remains lost in the fantasy world of Mumbai, far removed from political realities.
Sources say Kangana has become a significant headache for senior BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur. She may publicly smile alongside him, but privately she allegedly dismisses him and tries to wield the influence of Delhi leaders over him. For instance, sources say, Kangana recently pressured Jai Ram to accommodate her sister and a makeup artiste in a helicopter despite lack of space.
The former CM tried to convince the actor to make the duo travel by car, but to no avail. In another incident, Kangana reprimanded Jai Ram’s security team, escalating the issue to him directly. Jai Ram had to handle the situation tactfully because no one, not even he, could effectively confront Kangana.
A particularly memorable incident was when Jai Ram fell badly during one of Kangana’s events. She neither offered her car to take him to hospital nor inquired about his well-being. Eventually, he was taken in his own car, parked far away. Another incident involved BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda’s visit to Sundernagar. While senior BJP leaders awaited him in the Rest House, Kangana sat alone in her car for half an hour, refusing to join them.
Kangana doesn’t seem to consider anyone in the state to be her superior, say the sources. She seems to believe that being directly sent by Nadda and PM Narendra Modi from Delhi places her above everyone else. “This mentality might not bode well for her electoral prospects in Mandi,” they say.
The day she went to file her nomination, Kangana berated a police officer on duty. It is widely known that the BJP ticket to her came directly from the BJP central leadership, bypassing the state leadership entirely.
This “parachute candidacy” has not gone down well with local party leaders and workers, who have dedicated decades to the BJP. Her direct ascent from Bollywood to politics, without grassroots experience, is evident in her actions and demeanor, they say.
Kangana’s candidacy, driven by her Bollywood fame and outspoken patriotism on social media, overlooked local leaders who have long served the party. This decision has caused disappointment among many senior BJP members and their supporters in Mandi, who were hoping for a more experienced local candidate.
Despite Jai Ram campaigning tirelessly with her, Kangana shows little respect for him, say insiders. “She neither understands the intricacies of elections nor the pulse of the public. Her interaction with the media has been limited and reluctant. While Kangana has achieved significant success in Bollywood through her courage and determination, this success appears to have inflated her ego, something that can undermine her political journey,” say the sources.
