Bengal right-wing group floats party before polls

A right-wing group, Hindu Samhati, on Sunday announced the formation of its own political party, Jana Samhati. The party will contest at least 170 of the 294 seats. The organisation, formed in 2008, observed its foundation day on Sunday.

“Hindu Samhati will continue to work as an independent organisation. The Jana Samhati, which has been registered as a political party, will contest 40 seats in north Bengal and 130 in the south Bengal... We supported the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] in the 2019 but there has been a paradigm shift in its position since then... Hindus are losing their faith in the BJP,” said Debtanu Bhattacharya, president of the Jana Samhati.

Samik Bhattacharya, chief spokesperson of the BJP’S Bengal unit, said any party can join the race but it will remain a bi-polar contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress.