Hindu Mahasabha
Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (lit. 'All-India Hindu Grand Assembly') is a Hindu nationalist political party in India.
Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Madan Mohan Malaviya |
| Founded | 1915 (as organization) 1933 (as political party) |
| Split from | Indian National Congress |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Ideology | Hindutva Hindu nationalism Ultranationalism Social conservatism National conservatism Economic nationalism Right-wing populism |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right |
| Colours | Saffron |
| ECI Status | Registered Unrecognised |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 0 / 543
|
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 0 / 245
|
| Seats in State Legislative Assembly | 0 / 4,036
|
| Seats in State Legislative Council | 0 / 426
|
| Number of states and union territories in government | 0 / 31
(Collectively 28 States & 3 UTs) |
| Election symbol | |
| Website | |
| abhm | |
| |
Founded in 1915, the Mahasabha functioned mainly as a pressure group advocating the interests of orthodox Hindus before the British Raj and within the Indian National Congress. In the 1930s, it emerged as a distinct party under the leadership of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who developed the Hindutva ("Hinduness") and became a fierce opponent of the secular nationalism espoused by the Congress party.
During the World War II, the Mahasabha supported the British war effort and briefly entered coalitions with the Muslim League in provincial and central councils. After the assassination of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi by Hindu Mahasabha activist Nathuram Godse, the Mahasabha's fortunes diminished in Indian politics, and it was soon eclipsed by the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.