Congress leader Supriya Shrinate’s controversial social media post on Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut’s candidature as the Bharatiya Janata Party nominee has cast the spotlight on the Mandi Lok Sabha seat. The saffron party has added star power to Himachal Pradesh’s largest Lok Sabha segment, Mandi, by fielding Ranaut who has the advantage of being a local, besides a popular national figure.

Till March 19, sitting Congress MP and Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Pratibha Singh was believed to be the Congress candidate from Mandi. But speculations came to a standstill after she told the party high command that she was not keen on contesting the elections as party workers were not happy.

Singh’s statement on the party’s position exposed the growing dissent within the Congress fold. Factionalism also led to the party high command delaying ticket announcements for Himachal Pradesh’s four Lok Sabha segments. Sources close to the party say the Congress was interested in fielding Singh, who won the by-poll in 2021 despite being in the Opposition, from Mandi.