A fresh political controversy has emerged in Himachal Pradesh following remarks made by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut regarding the number of women legislators in the state Assembly. The statement has drawn a sharp response from Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, who termed the claim inaccurate and misleading.
Addressing the issue, Vikramaditya Singh clarified that the Himachal Pradesh Assembly currently has three women MLAs, not one as stated. He pointed out that among them, one belongs to the BJP and two are from the Congress. Questioning the accuracy of the statement, he remarked that making claims on women’s empowerment without basic factual knowledge appears unreasonable.
The controversy began after Kangana Ranaut, during her address in Parliament on Friday, claimed that out of 68 MLAs in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, only one is a woman. The statement quickly triggered reactions, with several social media users highlighting the factual discrepancy and criticising the remark.
Responding strongly, the minister described the statement as “baseless” and “laughable,” adding that such comments distort the actual representation of women in the state legislature. He further accused the BJP of using issues related to women’s empowerment for political messaging rather than factual discourse.
The debate has also extended to the Women’s Reservation Bill, with Vikramaditya Singh criticising the Centre’s approach. He stated that while the Congress has consistently supported women’s reservation, the bill introduced in 2023 was not passed in an appropriate manner. According to him, the timing of the bill’s introduction coincided with ongoing Assembly elections in several states, raising questions about political intent.
Singh alleged that the central government brought the bill primarily to gain electoral advantage. He further accused the BJP of engaging in politics in the name of women, rather than addressing structural issues related to representation and empowerment.
Following Ranaut’s remarks, political rhetoric in Himachal Pradesh has intensified, with both parties exchanging sharp statements. With the issue gaining traction, it is expected to remain a focal point in the state’s political discourse in the coming days.
