The Panihati Assembly constituency is witnessing a high-voltage by-election campaign, but it’s the rare display of political grace that is stealing the headlines. Tirthankar Ghosh, the TMC candidate and son of veteran leader Nirmal Ghosh, has taken a firm stand: he will not utter a single negative word against his BJP rival—the mother of the RG Kar victim, known as ‘Tilottama.’

During a heated campaign session on Sunday, when reporters quizzed Tirthankar about the BJP candidate’s political foray, he responded with folded hands. “I will not say anything about Kakima (aunt). She is deeply respected. While we are political opponents on paper, I hold her in the highest regard personally. I do not have the audacity to pass comments against her,” Tirthankar said. This strategic “Speak-ti Not” policy is being seen as an attempt to avoid a backlash from a sensitive electorate while maintaining a dignified image.

However, this courtesy did not extend to the Left. Tirthankar launched a scathing attack on CPI(M) candidate Kallotan Dasgupta, accusing him of being a “media-only” leader. “Kallotan Babu is visible on television screens and in rallies, but where is he when the people of Panihati actually need help? The residents here know who stays by them throughout the year and who only appears during elections,” he asserted.

The entry of Tilottama’s mother into the political fray via BJP has been a watershed moment in Bengal politics following the RG Kar tragedy. As the opposition tries to leverage the emotional weight of the case, Tirthankar’s refusal to engage in a war of words with her is a calculated move. It remains to be seen whether this blend of “respect for the victim’s family” and “aggressive campaigning against the Left” will resonate with the voters of Panihati when the ballots are cast.