Ahead of the high-stakes West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, the Bharatiya Janata Party has made a powerful and emotional political move by fielding Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar hospital rape-murder victim, as a candidate.
The party on Wednesday released its third list of 19 candidates, with Ratna Debnath contesting from the Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district.
From Grief to Politics: A Major Shift
In a significant development, Ratna Debnath had earlier declined political offers in January 2026. However, her decision to now enter electoral politics signals a major shift, reportedly driven by her fight for justice and concerns over women’s safety.
The RG Kar Medical College case in 2024 had sparked massive outrage across the country, exposing serious lapses in institutional security and triggering protests demanding accountability.
Her candidature is being seen as a symbolic move, turning personal tragedy into a political message around safety and systemic failures.
BJP’s Third List: Key Candidates Announced
Along with Ratna Debnath, the BJP announced several other candidates in its third list. Rathindra Nath Bose will contest from Cooch Behar South, while Dinesh Sarkar has been fielded from Rajganj (SC) and Chitrajit Roy from Islampur.
The BJP has already declared a large number of candidates earlier, releasing 144 names in its first list and 111 candidates in its second list, indicating an aggressive campaign strategy.
Big Battle Seats: Nandigram & Bhabanipur
The party has fielded Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, setting up a direct political clash with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is expected to contest from Bhabanipur.
Meanwhile, the Panihati seat, where Ratna Debnath will contest, has been held by TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh since 2011, making it a significant battleground.
Election Dates and Stakes
The West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results scheduled to be declared on May 4.
With 294 seats at stake, the election is expected to witness an intense battle between BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress, with emotional narratives, governance issues, and women’s safety likely to dominate the campaign.
Ratna Debnath’s entry has already added a new dimension to the polls, making this one of the most closely watched elections in the country.
