Mandi, 5 July 2025:
By openly claiming that senior party leader Jai Ram Thakur advised her to stay away from flood affected areas of her Mandi constituency, BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has sparked a political controversy. Both opposition parties and some segments of the public voiced harsh criticism of the drama as it developed.
Kangana stated on X that she had "tried reaching the flood affected areas in Seraj and other parts of Mandi, but was advised by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to wait until connectivity to rain hit areas is restored." "It's heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now," she continued, promising locals that she would get there "as soon as possible" once access is improved.
Following severe criticism of her absence following deadly cloudbursts and flash floods that claimed 43 lives in Himachal Pradesh, Kangana made her post. When it was reported that former chief minister Thakur had voiced concern for the locals, saying, "We live and die for them… cannot comment on those who are not," public outrage grew. Later, Thakur acknowledged that he had told Kangana not to go until the bridge and road repairs were finished.
"When the road's connectivity was cut off... After a day or two, I suggested that she go to the impacted areas. She is currently in Mumbai, and as of right now, nothing is known about her visit," he informed reporters.
The Congress, unimpressed, took the chance to attack the BJP and Kangana. The party responded sharply, sharing Thakur's comments on X and accusing Ranaut of not caring about the impacted families: "MP Kangana Ranaut does not care about the people of Mandi … these are not our words, but those of … Jai Ram Thakur." Kangana then replied on X, saying, "I'm headed to Himachal Pradesh.
I'll be going to the impacted areas shortly. Rest assured that I always support Himachal Pradesh. Jai Hind. After the backlash, her post implied a sense of urgency.
In the midst of the political turmoil, Mandi has been ravaged by floods and heavy rain, which have damaged bridges, roads, overhead cables, and other infrastructure. According to local officials, efforts are in progress to restore connectivity. After inspecting crucial districts like Seraj and Nachan, Thakur claimed to have urged the Chief Minister for immediate relief assistance.
Political analysts point out that this is Kangana's biggest public appearance since winning the MP election as she gets ready to visit. Voters are keeping a close eye on lawmakers' crisis response times, so the episode could affect public opinion ahead of future polls.
