Mandi (HP): Congress will field Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat against BJP’s candidate, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, according to his mother and state party chief Pratibha Singh, media reports said.

According to an India Today report, Pratibha Singh said that the people of Mandi have "always been with us," apparently indicating her family’s strong political influence in the constituency.

Pratibha Singh is the sitting MP from Mandi and has represented the seat in the parliament three times.

She told India Today TV that she has won the seat even in difficult times and Kangana Ranaut’s statements against her son won’t impact his winning prospects.

Earlier, Kangana Ranaut had slammed Vikramaditya Singh for his comments over reports suggesting that she consumed beef.

"I pray to Lord Ram to give her wisdom and hope she goes back pure from 'Dev Bhoomi' Himachal to Bollywood because she will not win the elections as she knows nothing about the people of Himachal," Singh had said about the actor, according to the reports.

Ranaut had said that Vikramaditya Singh could not threaten her and tell her to leave Himachal Pradesh as the state did not belong to his ancestors.

The Himachal minister had also attacked Kangana Ranaut, saying she should talk about the issues in the state and Mandi.

He asked whether she had visited Manali even for one day during the worst-ever monsoon disaster.

The Congress leader also challenged Kangana Ranaut to speak about the issues of Himachal Pradesh and Mandi. He also questioned if she had visited Manali for a single day last year when floods and landslides wreaked havoc in the area.

Emphasizing his deeper connection with the state, Vikramaditya Singh said he was present on ground zero at the time of the disaster and dismissed Kangana Ranaut as someone who lived in Mumbai.

"The people of Himachal have nothing to do with what you eat and drink in Mumbai. Please talk about issues, your vision, what you did during the disaster, and what your role will be in the future," he was quoted as saying by India Today.