India, May 4 -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and mother of RG Kar victim, Ratna Debnath, is leading in West Bengal's Panihati by 5,067 votes over the Trinamool Congress nominee.

Debnath has bagged 13,784 votes, while the TMC's Tirthankar Ghosh has secured 8,717 votes.

Her daughter, a doctor on duty, was raped and murdered at Kolkata's state-run RG Medical College and Hospital in August 2024.

Her entry into politics marks a significant shift in the state's electoral narrative, centring on institutional accountability and the safety of women.

Debnath's 2026 campaign has become a focal point of national attention. Since her nomination by the BJP, she has evolved from a grieving mother into a vocal advocate for systemic reform....