Kangana Ranaut attributes absence from flood-hit Mandi to ex-CM Jairam Thakur's advice

Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, the newly elected BJP MP from Mandi, has sought to deflect criticism regarding her conspicuous absence from her flood-ravaged constituency. In a post on X, a day after senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur publicly questioned her absence, Ranaut claimed it was Thakur himself who had advised her against visiting the affected areas until connectivity was restored.

"I tried reaching flood-affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but was advised by respected leader of opposition Shri @jairamthakurbjp ji to wait until the connectivity to the affected areas are restored," Ranaut posted. She further added that a "Red alert is issued by Mandi DC today as well" and stated she was "Awaiting authorities’ approval on the same, will be there soonest possible." This clarification comes amidst growing public and political scrutiny, especially given that Mandi district has been severely hit by cloudbursts and flash floods, resulting in at least 14 deaths over the past week and 31 people still missing.

Jairam Thakur, who is the MLA from Seraj, an area significantly impacted by the monsoon fury, had campaigned extensively for Ranaut in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. However, when questioned by the media on Thursday about Ranaut's absence, he had remarked, "I don’t know why she (Kangana) did this. We are here, we are here to live and die with the people of Mandi. I do not want to comment on those who are not concerned about it." The Congress party swiftly seized upon Thakur's comments, sharing his video on X to criticize Ranaut's perceived lack of concern for her constituents. Across Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon has claimed 69 lives and injured 110 since June 20, with 22 moderate-intensity landslides reported on July 3 alone.