From Grief to Ballot: BJP Fields RG Kar Victim’s Mother, Ignites Political Firestorm in Bengal

In a dramatic and emotionally charged move ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded the mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim from the Panihati constituency—triggering sharp political reactions and public debate across the state.

The victim’s mother, whose daughter’s brutal rape and murder in 2024 sparked nationwide outrage and protests, has been named as a BJP candidate in the party’s third list.

Her entry into electoral politics marks a significant shift—from leading a prolonged fight for justice to stepping directly into the political arena. Earlier last week, she had stated that her decision to contest stems from frustration over delayed justice and a desire to fight for women’s safety in West Bengal.

“It was my decision to contest for elections. I had floated the idea. I want to fight for the safety of woman in the state,” the RG Kar victim’s mother had said.

The BJP’s decision is widely seen as both “symbolic and strategic.” The RG Kar case had become a flashpoint issue, galvanising protests and raising serious questions about law and order and women’s safety in the state.

However, the candidate’s husband and father of RG Kar victim doctor had stated that they were “pondering over the decision for long.”

By fielding the victim’s mother, the party appears to be channeling public sentiment and positioning the issue at the center of its campaign narrative against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), sources close to Panihati BJP cadre told NTT under conditions of anonymity.

The move has sparked a political storm. The TMC has questioned her decision to join the BJP, asking her to explain the shift given her earlier criticism of authorities and investigative agencies.

At the same time, sections of civil society and protest groups—particularly those associated with movements that emerged after the incident—have expressed discomfort over what they see as the “politicisation” of a deeply tragic case.

Panihati, located in North 24 Parganas, has now become one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in the upcoming elections. The constituency carries emotional weight due to its connection to the victim, and the contest is expected to draw intense attention.

With polling scheduled later in April and results on May 4, the election is shaping up to be not just a political contest, but a referendum on justice, governance, and public sentiment in West Bengal.​