Rs 1 Lakh Power Bill To Kangana Ranaut For Manali House? Here's What Electricity Board Says

Sparks flew in Himachal Pradesh this week as actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut found herself at the center of a political and power billing controversy. After publicly criticizing the state's Congress government for "inflated" electricity bills, the BJP's candidate for the Mandi Lok Sabha was sharply rebutted by Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh.

Ranaut said, "I received an electricity bill of ₹1 lakh for one month for my house in Manali," while speaking at a public event in Mandi. I don't even call that place home. What a miserable condition it is. "The electricity bill, which was previously ₹5,000, has shot up to ₹80,000," she said, raising more concerns about the startling charges.

However, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL), Ranaut owes ₹90,384 in unpaid electricity bills for January and February, which includes ₹32,287 in past-due amounts, it clarified in a statement this week.. According to reports, her Simsa village home's domestic connection can handle 94.82 KW of connected load, which is roughly 1,500% more than the typical household's. The board also added that October through December bills had not been paid on schedule.

Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh wasted no time in taking a jibe at the outspoken star, posting on Facebook in Hindi: "Mohtarma badi shararat karti hai, bijli ka bill nahin bharti hai, phir manch par sarkar ko kosti hai, aisa kaisa chalega?" (Madam plays mischief, doesn't pay electricity bills, then criticizes the government on stage - how will this work?).

In her signature fiery style, Ranaut hit back at Singh during another rally, quipping, "If Vikramaditya Singh is Raja Babu, I am also a Queen."

Singh, the son of former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh and Congress state president Pratibha Singh, hails from the erstwhile Rampur royal family, while Kangana has often referred to herself as the "Queen," echoing her popular 2014 film that helped cement her Bollywood stardom. With elections nearing, the clash has become the latest in a series of verbal volleys as both camps attempt to sway public opinion.