Rekha Patra, the woman who became the face of the Sandeshkhali resistance against alleged atrocities, has officially hit the campaign trail for the 2026 Assembly elections. On Friday afternoon, Patra visited the historic Chaitanya Math in Mayapur to seek divine blessings before launching her political offensive. Accompanied by senior BJP leaders and hundreds of cheering supporters, her presence turned the temple town into a political hotspot.

Clad in a simple saree with a tilak on her forehead, Rekha Patra emphasized her roots as a grassroots fighter. “I am not here as a politician but as a daughter of Bengal who has witnessed the pain of women in Sandeshkhali. My fight is for justice and the dignity of every woman who has been silenced by the ruling regime,” she told reporters after her prayers. The atmosphere was charged with slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ as she walked through the crowd, shaking hands and listening to the grievances of local residents.

The BJP’s decision to project Rekha Patra as a key candidate is a strategic move to keep the Sandeshkhali issue alive in the public memory. By starting her campaign from the spiritually significant Chaitanya Math, the party aims to strike a chord with the religious and emotional sentiments of the voters in the border districts. As she embarks on this high-stakes electoral journey, political analysts suggest that Rekha Patra’s campaign will be centered on “Nari Shakti” (Women Empowerment) and a direct challenge to the TMC’s governance model.