Renowned actor-politician Kangana Ranaut is at the center of a heated dispute with Himachal Pradesh’s PWD minister, Vikramaditya Singh, over unpaid electricity bills. The controversy erupted when the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEB) revealed that Ranaut had outstanding bills totaling ₹90,384 for January and February. In response, Singh accused the BJP MP of not paying and then blaming the government.
Ranaut, the Lok Sabha MP from Mandi, voiced her grievances against the Congress government, highlighting exorbitant electricity bills in Himachal Pradesh. During a recent public meeting, she expressed frustration over receiving a ₹1 lakh bill for her Manali home, which she claims to visit infrequently. Her public remarks quickly went viral, further amplifying the situation.
Singh, in a sharp retort, took to Facebook, accusing Ranaut of mischievous behavior. He stated, “Mohtarma badi shararat karti hai, bijli ka bill nahin bharti hai, phir manch par sarkar ko kosti hai, aisa kaisa chalega” (Madam plays mischief, she does not pay electricity bills, then curses government from a public platform. How will this work?).
Public Showdown
Addressing a gathering in Sarkaghat, Mandi, Kangana Ranaut lashed back, asserting her identity as a ‘queen’ in the face of Singh’s criticism, indirectly comparing herself to the former royal. Highlighting the spike in her electricity bill from ₹5,000 to ₹80,000, she questioned the rationale, asking if she was running a factory at her residence.
Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and current state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, is the heir to the Rampur estate. His prominent position in the state’s political landscape adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing clash.
Clarifications and Details
The HPSEB clarified that the bills in question, delayed since October, included ₹32,287 in prior dues. The domestic connection, registered under Kangana Ranaut’s name at her Simsa village residence, reflects a connected load of 94.82 KW. This figure is reportedly 1,500% higher than that typical for a standard household.
Ranaut’s contention and Singh’s allegations have sparked a wider debate about billing practices and political accountability. The ongoing media coverage ensures that both sides of the controversy remain in the spotlight, capturing public attention across social platforms.
The significance of this dispute stretches beyond a simple billing issue. It underscores tensions between political figures, potentially influencing perceptions of governance in Himachal Pradesh. As both parties continue to assert their viewpoints, the public eagerly anticipates a resolution. Given the magnitude of interest, further developments are likely to unfold in the public eye, keeping Kangana Ranaut’s name firmly in the headlines.
