KOLKATA — In a major political development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP has nominated the mother of the RG Kar Hospital victim as its candidate for the Panihati seat. Her name featured in the party’s third list of 19 candidates released today.
The move is seen as a strategic attempt by the BJP to channel the public outpour of grief and anger following the August 2024 tragedy into a direct electoral challenge against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
“A Painful Responsibility”
Speaking to the media after the announcement, the candidate emphasized that her entry into politics was driven by a quest for justice rather than personal ambition.
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On the Candidature: “If I win, the people of Panihati will win. I will raise my voice for those who have forgotten how to protest.”
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On her Motivation: She described contesting the election as a “painful responsibility,” stating her daughter would be happy if she served the people.
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On the TMC: She called for the “uprooting” of the current government, aiming for the “lotus to bloom” across the state.
Political Crossfire
The nomination has immediately sparked a war of words between the BJP and the TMC:
| Party | Stance |
| BJP | Invoking the RG Kar incident to highlight the collapse of law and order and women’s safety in Bengal. |
| TMC | Questioning why she joined the BJP after previously alleging that the CBI (under the Centre) failed to probe the case properly. |
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh challenged the candidate to explain her choice, claiming she had previously struggled to get appointments with the Prime Minister and Home Minister in New Delhi.
Election Countdown
With the inclusion of these 19 names, the BJP has now declared candidates for 275 out of 294 seats. The upcoming elections are set to be a high-stakes battle:
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Polling Dates: April 23 and April 29, 2026.
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Results Day: May 4, 2026.
The RG Kar protests marked a watershed moment in Bengal’s civil society, and the victim’s mother’s presence on the ballot ensures that the demand for “Justice for Abhaya” remains at the heart of the electoral narrative.
