RG Kar Rape-Murder Victim's Mother Leads In Panihati; Emotional Campaign Over RG Kar Case Shapes Bengal

The counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections began on Monday, 4 May, and early trends have already drawn attention to Panihati.

Ratna Debnath, a candidate from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), moved ahead of her rivals in the initial rounds, signalling a closely watched contest in the constituency.

Early Trends Show BJP Ahead in Panihati

As counting started at 8 AM, officials began releasing round-wise data from across the state. In Panihati, Ratna Debnath took an early lead of more than 2,700 votes after the first round of counting, which concluded around 11:30 AM.

The constituency is witnessing a multi-cornered fight. Debnath is contesting against Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Tirthankar Ghosh, CPI(M)'s Kalatan Dasgupta, and Congress nominee Subhashish Bhattacharya. A total of 13 rounds of counting are scheduled, meaning the final result is still some distance away.

As of 12:30 pm, the vote tally in West Bengal shows BJP leading with 181 seats, while TMC stands at 102.

A Candidacy Shaped by Personal Tragedy

Ratna Debnath's entry into politics has drawn widespread attention due to her personal story. She is the mother of the young woman who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024.

Her campaign has largely focused on seeking justice for her daughter and raising concerns about women's safety. This emotional background has made her one of the most talked-about candidates in the election.

Strong Words Against Mamata Banerjee

During her campaign, Debnath openly criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. She held the state leadership accountable, especially highlighting that the Chief Minister also oversees the health department where her daughter worked.

Debnath stated that her fight is not just electoral but also personal. She questioned why stronger action was not taken in her daughter's case and expressed deep dissatisfaction with the government's response.

Campaign Backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Ratna Debnath also campaigned alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the election period. At a rally in Panihati, Modi criticised the ruling TMC government, linking law and order concerns to the RG Kar case.

The BJP has used the incident as a major campaign issue, focusing on governance and women's safety in the state.

Voter Sentiment and High Turnout

Debnath has repeatedly pointed to the high voter turnout as a sign of public anger and desire for change. She expressed gratitude to voters and said that people are ready to remove the ruling party from power.

She also criticised remarks related to women's safety, arguing that such statements shift responsibility away from authorities and place unfair restrictions on women.

While early trends show Ratna Debnath in the lead, several rounds of counting are still pending. The final outcome will depend on how voting patterns unfold across all rounds.
Regardless of the result, the Panihati contest has already become one of the most emotionally charged and politically significant battles in this election, reflecting a mix of personal grief, public anger, and larger political narratives in West Bengal.