My 2 brothers are my Cabinet, says Kangana Ranaut as her visit to flood-hit Mandi triggers political row

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut is facing backlash after making remarks during her visit to flood-affected areas in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district.

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Ranaut is a BJP MP from Mandi.

While addressing relief efforts in her parliamentary constituency, Ranaut joked that she does not have an official Cabinet or funds to provide disaster relief.

“Whether it’s disaster relief or the disaster itself, I don’t have an official cabinet. I have my two brothers who are always with me. That’s my Cabinet,” the BJP MP said with a laugh. She added that MPs have limited roles, mainly working within Parliament.

हिमाचल प्रदेश के मंडी में बादल फटने से भारी तबाही हुई है. लोग परेशान हैं, उनका सब कुछ उजड़ गया है.

मंडी की सांसद कंगना कई दिन बाद वहां पहुंचीं और हंसते हुए कहा- 'मैं क्या कर सकती हूं, मेरे पास कैबिनेट तो है नहीं'

कुछ तो संवेदना दिखाइए कंगना जी pic.twitter.com/btzPimukNa

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 6, 2025

However, Ranaut assured that help from the central government would reach those affected. She highlighted ongoing rescue operations and relief efforts coordinated by her party leaders and government teams on the ground.

The Congress criticised her remarks as “insensitive,” sharing a clip of her comments on social media. They said it was inappropriate to joke about the lack of official power while people in Mandi are suffering after the cloudburst disaster.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also criticised the BJP MP.

A political storm had erupted over the absence of Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut from her constituency amid massive rain-triggered devastation, the actor-turned-politician had clarified that it was former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur who had advised her not to visit the region until road connectivity was restored.

It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now, I tried reaching to flood affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but advised by respected leader of opposition Shri @jairamthakurbjp ji to wait untill the connectivity and reach to…

— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) July 4, 2025