Can Kolkata rape-murder case help BJP end Mamata Didi's reign? Here's what experts say

West Bengal has seen a massive public reaction following the tragic death of a medic from RG Kar Hospital. People have rallied in unique ways—forming long human chains, turning off lights at home, writing poems, singing songs, and crying out for justice. This intense and widespread response has led many to wonder if it could signal a change in Bengal’s political scene.

Views on this vary. Some see it as the "end of the Bengali middle class's support for the Trinamool Congress (TMC)," while others believe it might lead to a broader social movement that could eventually impact politics. The "enough is enough" attitude seems to show the 'bhadralok' community breaking free from its usual passivity, now feeling pushed to act.

Senior journalist Biswajit Bhattacharya told PTI that the RG Kar incident has broken the narrow class view of educated people, who are now leading the protests instead of just participating. He said this kind of mass mobilisation is unprecedented and credited social media for helping organise the protests.


Bhattacharya also noted that the anger felt by the public is greater than what was seen in the 2013 Shahbag protests in Bangladesh. He said the demand for justice has grown beyond the individual case to a wider call for better safety for women in all areas. This shift shows increasing frustration with old social norms and political parties, which is why protestors are avoiding political symbols.

Maidul Islam, a professor of Political Science at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, sees these protests as a sign of a "deeper crisis of representation" for urban Bengalis who feel left out of political decisions. Islam told PTI that people strongly identified with the victim—a symbol of the educated middle class—because of their frustration with political corruption and the lack of job opportunities leading to brain drain.

Islam thinks the RG Kar case triggered this frustration, though he is cautious about saying what it means for the TMC. He suggested that while it might mark the end of the middle class’s support for the TMC, the rural population is not fully aligned with this urban feeling.

Writer and former civil servant Anita Agnihotri described the protests as "a unique event not seen since Independence," highlighting the significant participation of women. Agnihotri told PTI that the protests are not just about the crime itself but also about realising deeper issues, like organised crime and corruption. She pointed out that the handling of the investigation and the influence of the ruling party in various aspects of the case have angered many.

Agnihotri observed that many people are avoiding political banners due to a lack of trust in both the ruling party and the opposition, who are seen as prioritising political gains over justice. She said the incident has shown that even a popular government can act with little accountability, a lesson for both the public and the democratic process.


Inputs from PTI