RG Kar outrage shakes Panihati: Sympathy for Abhaya's mother challenges Trinamool stronghold

Kolkata: There is a wave of emotions swaying towards RG Kar victim Abhaya's mother, not because she is a candidate contesting on a BJP ticket, but because the residents of Panihati intend to ensure justice for Abhaya. This is why many want to cast their votes for Abhaya's mother. There is a palpable feeling of change in the air in Panhati, once a Trinamool stronghold.

Panihati has grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The RG Kar PGT doctor's murder and death in 2024, her parents' sordid tales and continuous court battles -- from the high court to the Supreme Court -- and the whole state hitting the roads with protests which continued for several months seeking justice for her, have dominated the headlines for long. And all this has not gone down well with people.

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Panihati assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal has never been a high-profile assembly seat. This time, the constituency came to light after the BJP fielded Ratna Debnath, the mother of the junior doctor of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata who was raped and murdered within the hospital premises in August 2024.

A local medicine shop owner, Avijit Ghosh, told ET, "We should not think about any party but vote for Abhaya's mother. All our sentiments are with her and her struggle. We want justice for her. She is going on a door-to-door campaign and seeking votes."

Women votes also may swing towards Ratna Debnath as women are crying, hugging her as she meets people and campaign at their doorsteps. Abhaya's death and lack of justice and the anger against the administration for allegedly hiding evidence, have perturbed people in Panihati and the entire state. RG Kar and women's security are the main poll planks for BJP this time.

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A doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the seat will see a three-cornered fight with CPM having strong organisational base in Panihati. Trinamool, with its sitting MLA Nirmal Ghosh's son contesting the seat this time, may have clout but sentiments are shifting towards Abhaya's mother."

Trinamool Congress has fielded Tirthankar Ghosh, son of sitting MLA and Chief Whip of the party in the Assembly, Nirmal Ghosh. Senior Ghosh is a five-time Trinamool Congress MLA from the constituency since 1996, except one term between 2006 and 2011.

CPM has fielded its youth leader and prominent face of the RG Kar movement Kalatan Dasgupta.

Ratna Debnath said she wants to change the system and ensure women's safety and security if she wins.

Panihati was once considered a stronghold of the Trinamool Congress. However, because of the RG Kar incident, the re-nomination to its five-time sitting legislator Nirmal Ghosh -- whose name got defamed over controversies related to the RG Kar rape and murder case -- was denied.

Ghosh came under scathing criticism not only from Opposition parties but also from a cross section of society after he was accused of taking possession of the victim's body after the post-mortem and rushing it back to Panihati from Kolkata, and then hurriedly arranging for the cremation.

Opposition parties alleged that Ghosh's actions were prompted by instructions from the ruling party's high command to prevent a second post-mortem of the body.