Himachal: It may well be Raja Vikramaditya vs ‘Queen’ Kangana in Mandi

Film actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, who shot into the limelight with her roles in 'Gangster', 'Fashion', ‘Queen’, 'Tanu Weds Manu', may have a formidable challenge on her hands in the form of ‘Raja’ Vikramaditya Singh, if the PWD minister of Himachal Pradesh decides to contest from her home constituency Mandi.

Speculations about Vikramaditya joining the Lok Sabha poll fray are rife after he and his mother Pratibha Singh met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi on Sunday (April 7). According to reports, Vikramaditya may be pitted against Ranaut, the BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi.

However, Vikramaditya is on the horns of dilemma, according to India TV, as he harbours chief ministerial ambitions. Quoting unnamed sources, the report said the scion of the Himachal royal family wants to consolidate his grip in the politics of the state. Currently, he holds a ministerial portfolio in the Congress government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukku. His mother Pratibha Singh is a sitting MP from the Mandi constituency.

If Vikramaditya decides to contest the election from Mandi and defeat Ranaut, then there is likelihood of his mother getting a berth in the state cabinet and Shimla (Rural), the constituency he represents as an MLA, would go to her.

Born on October 17, 1989, Vikramaditya began his political career a decade ago in 2013, when he was appointed president of the state Youth Congress. He was given the title of Raja in 2021 after the demise of his father Virbhadra Singh, former chief minister and six-time MLA.

If Raja Vikramaditya decides to throw his hat in the ring, Mandi may just witness a Raja vs ‘Queen’ Kangana battle on June 1 when Himachal goes to polls, just three days before the results are out on June 4.