Vikramaditya Singh Pledges to Advocate for Apple Farmers and Local Development if Elected as MP

Mandi: Vikramaditya Singh, Congress candidate and Public Works Minister, has committed to raising the import duties on apples from abroad to support local farmers if elected as an MP. During his campaign rallies in Kullu district, Singh outlined his vision, which includes establishing cold storage facilities and a large juice processing plant for apples and other fruits.

Singh emphasized the importance of creating employment opportunities at the local level and promoting self-employment in the Mandi parliamentary constituency. He contrasted his development-focused vision with the BJP candidate’s reliance on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name.

He criticized BJP for using religion in politics and accused former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur of resorting to regionalism in response to anticipated electoral defeat. Singh also defended the legacy of his family, highlighting that his father, Virbhadra Singh, was elected Chief Minister six times and his mother, Pratibha Singh, served as an MP for Mandi thrice. He argued that Kangana Ranaut’s comments about political dynasties insult the voters and the sentiment of the people of Himachal Pradesh.

 BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut recently built a house in the area, which has become a point of contention among local residents.

Singh accused Kangana of disrespecting former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by implying that all development in India occurred after 2014 and noted that such statements dishonor the freedom fighters who fought for India’s independence.

During a previous campaign stop in the Simsa Panchayat of Manali, Singh received a warm welcome and appealed for votes, assuring residents that he would address their local issues, including road and water supply improvements. He criticized Kangana for her alleged negative impact on the local community since building her house there, accusing her of acting like a dictator and filing police cases against neighbors. Singh promised to protect the rights and freedoms of the Simsa Panchayat residents if elected.