Influence of BJP dissidents, erstwhile royal families can make road tough for Kangana in Mandi
erstwhile royal families in the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency can make the road tough for Bollywood actor turned-politician Kangana Ranaut who is making her electoral debut as the BJP candidate from the high-profile seat. Maheshwar Singh, a former BJP state president, three times MP and scion of the erstwhile royal family of Kullu, has asked the party high command to review its decision to field Ranaut while BJP dissidents who were denied a ticket in 2022 assembly polls and fought as Independents held a meeting to chalk out the strategy.
BJP leader and former minister Ram Lal Markanda has resigned from the party along with his supporters after Congress rebel Ravi Thakur who voted in favor of the BJP in Rajya Sabha elections was given a ticket for assembly bypolls from Lahaul and Spiti.
«I have left the BJP along with my supporters and would definitely contest the assembly polls,» he had told PTI adding that there is a possibility of him contesting from the Congress party.
Mandi Parliament seat comprises 17 assembly seats — three tribal assembly constituencies of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Bharmour in Chamba district, all four assembly segments of Kullu district — Kullu, Manali, Banjar and Anni and nine assembly constituencies of Sundernagar, Balh, Mandi, Darang, Jogindernagar, Nachan, Seraj, Karsog and Sarkaghat assembly constituencies in Mandi district and Rampur in Shimla district.
Out of the 17 assembly seats, eight are reserved for Schedule Tribes and Schedule Castes.
The Mandi Lok Sabha constituency has
