Kolkata, 09 April (H.S.): Ratna Debnath, the mother of the woman doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on Thursday filed her nomination as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district.

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani, along with several district-level party leaders, was present during the filing of her nomination papers.

Speaking to reporters after filing her nomination, Debnath said her primary objective is to oust the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government from West Bengal. She alleged that women’s safety has deteriorated under the present administration and stressed the need to prevent incidents like the RG Kar case from recurring.

She said that if elected, she would prioritise women’s safety and work towards strengthening law and order in the state.

Notably, in August 2024, the body of her 26-year-old daughter was found inside a locked seminar room at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, triggering widespread outrage across the state. About one and a half years after the incident, Debnath has decided to enter electoral politics from her home constituency of Panihati.

Debnath said she has entered the electoral fray with a resolve to seek justice for her daughter and to ensure the safety and security of women across the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh