Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Rigged Polls’ allegations echo in Himachal; Kangana Ranaut’s Mandi win finds spotlight
Shimla, Aug 12,
The political firestorm ignited by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of “large-scale electoral irregularities” is now shaking the Himachal Pradesh political landscape, with questions mounting over BJP’s high-profile win in the Mandi Lok Sabha seat by Bollywood actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.
The controversy stems from a pending election petition before the Himachal Pradesh High Court, challenging the returning officer’s decision to cancel the nomination of an independent candidate from Mandi during the recent polls.
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president and former MP Pratibha Singh — mother of PWD Minister and Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh, who lost to Ranaut — has openly backed Gandhi’s claims. Singh termed the BJP’s clean sweep in Himachal “suspicious,” citing “never-seen-before” victory margins.
“We have been watching elections here for decades, but never have we seen margins of four to five lakh votes. The highest earlier was around 1.5 lakh,” Singh said, questioning how a political newcomer could defeat a seasoned candidate with a solid vote bank.
Pointing to the 2019 results where the BJP also won all four seats with massive margins, Singh accused the saffron party of “weakening democracy” and “manipulating constitutional institutions.” She endorsed Gandhi’s allegations of fake votes and voter list tampering, calling the Election Commission’s response “irresponsible” and “under central government pressure.”
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu lent weight to the concerns, telling reporters after a Youth Day event in Shimla that if the HPCC president had raised the issue, “there must be some truth in it.” Calling the allegations “serious,” he reiterated party support for Singh’s statement and criticised the detention of Rahul Gandhi as “unfortunate” and “an attempt to silence the opposition.”
Nationally, Gandhi has been on the offensive, questioning the credibility of the 2024 Lok Sabha mandate and demanding independent scrutiny of voter lists and polling processes. The BJP, however, has dismissed the charges as “baseless” and a “narrative to cover up electoral defeat.”
With a court case pending, political rhetoric sharpening, and a celebrity MP at the centre of the storm, the Mandi seat is now emerging as a flashpoint in the ongoing battle over India’s electoral integrity.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.