India, May 4 -- The Panihati Assembly constituency in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most closely watched seats in the 2026 elections, with BJP candidate Ratna Debnath - mother of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim - taking a significant early lead.

According to latest trends, Debnath is ahead of Tirthankar Ghosh of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) by a margin of over 5,000 votes as counting progresses.

The Panihati seat in North 24 Parganas has drawn intense public and political attention due to the emotional weight of Debnath's candidature. She entered the electoral fray on a BJP ticket following the 2024 RG Kar case, which triggered nationwide outrage and protests over women's safety.

Her campaign has largely centr...