Ratna Debnath

Ratna Debnath, the mother of the victim in the RG Kar rape and murder case, is contesting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from the Panihati constituency, entering electoral politics in the aftermath of a personal tragedy that sparked statewide outrage.

Debnath is the mother of the doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024 — an incident that triggered widespread protests across West Bengal and beyond. Nearly a year-and-a-half later, she has stepped into the political arena on a BJP ticket, framing her candidature around demands for justice, women’s safety and accountability.

Her entry has turned Panihati into one of the most emotionally charged battlegrounds in the state. Traditionally a stronghold that shifted between the Left, Congress and later the Trinamool Congress, the seat is now witnessing a high-stakes contest shaped as much by public sentiment over the RG Kar case as by local issues.

Debnath is up against TMC candidate Tirthankar Ghosh and CPI(M)’s Kalatan Dasgupta, in what has become a multi-cornered fight. For the BJP, her candidature is seen as an attempt to channel public anger over the case into electoral support, while the ruling TMC is looking to defend a long-held bastion.

Positioning herself as a voice for justice, Debnath has said her political foray is aimed at ensuring accountability and preventing similar crimes, while also appealing to voters to support a broader push for change in the state.

Candidate Info: Ratna Debnath is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate contesting from Panihati (General) Assembly constituency for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. This female candidate is 54 years of age, according to the election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.