Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar rape and murder victim and BJP candidate from West Bengal's Panihati constituency, has won her seat by a margin of 28,836 votes, defeating TMC candidate Tirthankar Ghosh in a historic verdict.
Debnath secured 87,977 votes while Ghosh received 59,141 votes.
Her victory came as part of a sweeping BJP wave across West Bengal. By 10 pm, the BJP had won 188 seats and was leading in 19 more, marking a dramatic political shift in a state where the party had never previously formed a government. The result ends the Trinamool Congress's 15-year stranglehold on power.
The TMC won only 64 seats and was leading in 16 more — a dramatic collapse from its previous dominance. Congress managed just 2 seats.
Ratna Debnath's win is being seen as deeply symbolic. She entered politics with one clear message, justice for women and accountability from the Mamata Banerjee government over rising crimes against women in Bengal.
Her daughter, a young doctor, was brutally raped and murdered inside the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The horrific crime had triggered nationwide protests and put the Bengal government under intense scrutiny over law and order and institutional integrity.
Debnath campaigned relentlessly on women's safety, turning personal tragedy into a political battle cry that clearly resonated with voters in Panihati.
The BJP's performance marks one of the most dramatic electoral upsets in recent Indian political history. The party has gone from being a marginal force in Bengal to forming a government, riding on anti-incumbency against the TMC and issues of law and order, governance and corruption.
Aditi Pandey is a passionate journalist with over three years of experience in the digital newsroom. She has covered politics, crime and world news, w...View More
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
