Ratna Debnath, the mother of a young woman who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is currently leading in the Panihati assembly constituency in West Bengal. Contesting on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, Debnath has overtaken Tirthankar Ghosh of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), who was ahead earlier in the day but is now trailing.
Her campaign has centred strongly on raising concerns about crimes against women and targeting the government led by Mamata Banerjee. The issue gained traction following the widely condemned killing of a young doctor within the RG Kar Medical College premises—an incident that triggered protests across the state. Although the demonstrations initially drew significant public participation, several protesters later alleged intimidation, punitive transfers, and administrative pressure. Some of these grievances were taken to the Calcutta High Court.
Meanwhile, the BJP is heading toward a landmark electoral performance in West Bengal, a state where it has historically struggled to establish power. Early trends show the party leading in 183 seats, compared to TMC’s 110. If these numbers hold, it would mark the first time the BJP forms a government in the state.
The result signals a major political shift in eastern India and strengthens the position of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For over 15 years, West Bengal has been governed by the Trinamool Congress under Mamata Banerjee, one of Modi’s most vocal critics.
With projections suggesting the BJP could cross 200 seats in the 294-member assembly, the outcome is set to have far-reaching consequences for India’s political landscape, delivering another setback to an already weakened opposition.
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