Finally, Kangana Ranaut Makes Her Political Debut, Named BJP Candidate For Mandi But Not Without Controversy!
Kangana Ranaut has eventually made her entry into the political arena; named as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate for Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Known for her fearless commentary on various issues, Ranaut's move has already sparked controversy in the political sphere.
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is renowned for her outspokenness on various trending topics – whether it’s making bold political statements or levelling shocking accusations against her industry peers, Ranaut appears driven to consistently thrust herself into the spotlight.
In what has been highly anticipated for a while now, Kangana Ranaut has been named as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
This announcement coincided with the BJP’s unveiling of its fifth list of candidates on Monday, March 25.
Ranaut’s unwavering support for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely acknowledged.
Grateful for the opportunity, she remarked, “I respect the party’s decision to field me in the Lok Sabha elections. It’s an honor to officially join the BJP and I eagerly anticipate serving as a dedicated worker and a responsible public servant.”
Hailing from the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, Ranaut’s foray into politics has long been anticipated. Back in 2022, she openly expressed her readiness to contest from Mandi if offered a BJP ticket, citing her admiration for Narendra Modi and the patriotic fervour he has instilled in the nation since assuming office in 2014.
The Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, presently represented by Pratibha Singh of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, is set for a fiercely contested battle with Ranaut entering the political arena.
Singh, who emerged victorious in a by-election in November 2021, has opted not to contest this time around, citing unfavorable circumstances and disillusioned party workers.
Stirring Up Controversy
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stirred up controversy on Monday (Mar 25), criticizing Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate for a now-deleted Instagram post featuring actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut alongside an objectionable caption.
The BJP demanded Shrinate’s immediate expulsion from the party.
Kangana Ranaut, taking to her social media platform, rebuked Shrinate, asserting that every woman worldwide “deserves her dignity.”
“Dear Supriya ji In the last 20 years of my career as an artist I have played all kinds of women. From a naive girl in Queen to a seductive spy in Dhaakad, from a goddess in Manikarnika to a demon in Chandramukhi, from a prostitute in Rajjo to a revolutionary leader in Thalaivii,” Ranaut said in a post on X.
We must free our daughters from the shackles of prejudices, we must rise above the curiosity about their body parts and above all we must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur… every woman deserves her dignity…,” she added.
Malviya, the head of BJP’s national information and technology department, called on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to take strong action against Shrinate.
He condemned Shrinate’s comment on Ranaut and urged Kharge to either dismiss her promptly or resign from his position within the party.
“Congress’s Supriya Shrinate makes an obnoxious comment on Kangana Ranaut in an Insta post. It is so disgusting that one can’t help, but ask – how does Congress collect so much filth in one place? If Kharge has any say in the party, he must sack her immediately or else resign,” Malviya, who is BJP IT cell head, posted on X.
Poonawalla, also condemning Shrinate’s remarks, demanded her immediate dismissal.
“The comments by Supriya Shrinate on Kangana Team are despicable! Should be immediately sacked. Will Priyanka Gandhi speak up? Will Kharge ji sack her! Where is the “Hathras” lobby now? First they justified Sandeshkhali, then Lal Singh getting a ticket from Congress and now this,” he posted on X.
Shrinate sparked widespread outrage online with her objectionable post about Ranaut.
However, she denied authoring the post, attributing it to someone else who had access to her social media accounts.
She later denied posting the same stating that someone else who had an access to her account shared the “absolutely disgusting and objectionable post”.
“Someone who had access to my meta accounts (FB and Insta) posted an absolutely disgusting and objectionable post, which has been taken down. Anyone who knows me will know I would never say that for a woman. However, a parody account that I have just discovered misusing my name is being run on Twitter which started the whole mischief, and is being reported,” she said.
Top 5 Kangana Ranaut Controversies
Bollywood turned politician now, Kangana Ranaut is known for her outspoken nature, often seizing opportunities to weigh in on trending issues.
Whether it’s making bold political statements or levelling shocking accusations against her industry peers, Ranaut consistently finds herself in the spotlight.
In recognition of her penchant for controversy, let’s look into five of her most notorious scandals.
1) Confronting Karan Johar on Nepotism
During an episode of “Koffee with Karan,” Ranaut stirred the pot by boldly declaring Karan Johar as the “flag bearer of nepotism.”
This assertion sparked widespread debate throughout Bollywood, souring the relationship between the two industry stalwarts.
2) Questioning India’s Independence in 1947
Ranaut caused a stir with her comments on India’s independence during the Times Now Summit 2021.
She controversially stated, “The freedom we received in 1947 was a ‘bheek’ (pity), the real freedom for Indian citizens came in 2014.”
Her remarks, linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election victory in 2014, drew sharp criticism, with many viewing them as disrespectful to the sacrifices of freedom fighters.
3) Threatening to Sue Filmfare for Award Nominations
Reports surfaced suggesting that Kangana Ranaut issued a stern warning to a prominent Indian magazine, indicating her intention to pursue legal action against them.
The reason cited was the magazine’s persistent nomination and invitations to the actress for her film “Thalaivii.”
Taking to her Instagram story, Ranaut voiced her stance, stating,
“I’ve boycotted unethical, corrupt, and entirely unjust practices like @filmfare since 2014. However, despite my stance, I’ve been receiving numerous calls from them to attend their award function this year, purportedly to receive an award for Thalaivii… I am astounded to learn that they are still nominating me.”
4) Her Relationship with Hrithik Roshan
Ranaut alleged that during the filming of “Krrish,” she and Hrithik Roshan developed a romantic chemistry both on and off-screen.
In 2013, Ranaut publicly claimed to be in a relationship with Roshan, an assertion vehemently denied by the actor. The ensuing dispute saw both parties granting multiple interviews to various media outlets to assert their respective narratives.
5) Drawing Comparisons between Mumbai and Pakistan
In 2020, Ranaut courted controversy once again with a bold statement that not only garnered legal attention but also ignited political turbulence.
She asserted that the Mumbai police were more intimidating to her than Bollywood mafias, going as far as comparing Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
This incendiary remark drew the involvement of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, leading to a municipal crew conducting a surprise inspection at Ranaut’s production house and issuing her a notice for alleged illegal construction.
However, the Bombay High Court later intervened, ordering a halt to the BMC’s demolition drive.
