VHP debunks news of fielding candidate in Hazaribagh; demands immediate apology from the newspaper

Amidst the unfolding political scenario in Hazaribag parliamentary constituency, a collective of right-wing organisations, including Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, announced the nomination of a joint candidate against the BJP’s chosen representative, Manish Jaiswal. The move comes as a surprise, particularly as these groups are traditionally aligned with the BJP and RSS.

The decision to field a candidate against Jaiswal, a two-time MLA from Hazaribag (Sadar), has potential implications for the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming elections. This development follows the sidelining of outgoing MP Jayant Sinha in favor of Jaiswal as the party’s nominee for the seat.

In response, the newly formed I.N.D.I Alliance nominated Jai Prakash Bhai Patel, a BJP defector who recently joined the Congress, as their joint candidate. However, the unexpected announcement by the right-wing groups to field their candidate under the banner of “Hindu Rashtra Sangh” adds a new dynamic to the electoral landscape.

Vijayanand Das, the chief of the Bara Akhara, explained the decision to field Shashibhushan Kesri from the Okni locality as their joint candidate against Jaiswal. The Hindu Rashtra Sangh emphasized that their participation in the election aims to protect the interests of Hindus in the region.

Kesri articulated their campaign objectives, emphasizing the need to address unemployment among the youth and alleging negligence by the Modi government. He also criticized Jaiswal’s track record, claiming that he had not effectively served the interests of Hazaribag constituents during his tenure.

In response to the allegations, Jaiswal refuted the claims of inaction and defended his record of service to the Hazaribag constituency.

However, Vinod Bansal the National spokesperson of VHP took it to social Media platform X, that the initial news report erroneously attributed the involvement of VHP and Bajrang Dal to the announcement, prompting calls for immediate correction and apology from @TOIIndiaNews.