In a major political development ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP on Wednesday released its third list of 19 candidates, featuring a name that has sent shockwaves through the political circuit. Ratna Debnath, the mother of the postgraduate trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital, has been named the BJP candidate for the Panihati constituency.

Ending Speculations: For months, there were rumors about the victim’s family joining active politics to further their struggle for justice. By nominating Ratna Debnath, the BJP has turned the “Justice for Abhaya” movement into a key electoral issue. The party aims to capitalize on the public outrage that followed the horrific incident. While the BJP has declared 19 more candidates today, including Rathindra Nath Bose and Swapan Das, 19 seats are still kept pending for future announcements. This move is expected to put immense pressure on the ruling TMC in its traditional strongholds.