The party said in a press release that its Central Election Committee has approved the third list of 19 candidates for the assembly elections, including Ratna Debnath from Panihati, assembly constituency 111.
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Her candidacy has been the subject of widespread speculation in recent days after she publicly expressed her willingness to contest from the BJP. That possibility is now official, according to the official list released by the BJP on Wednesday.
The move comes in response to her public call to enter politics
Earlier, Ratna Debnath had said that she wanted to contest the elections to “fight for justice” for her daughter and fight for the safety of women in West Bengal.“It has been a long time since my daughter was brutally murdered. Despite the movement and struggle for a long time, we have not received justice. I have decided to contest the elections on the ticket of the BJP to ensure justice for her,” she had said last week.Her husband also said preliminary talks had been held with BJP leaders about her possible candidacy and said she was ready to enter politics directly on judicial issues.
Politics and protests ensue
Ratna Debnath’s request triggered a strong reaction from some associated with the “Take Back the Night” protest movement that emerged after the RG Kar case, with some activists and public figures calling the decision “unfortunate” and expressing concern about the political shift.Some protesters said they understood the family’s frustration with delayed justice but questioned the decision to enter electoral politics. Others say the long wait for accountability could push the family to take a more direct political route.However, an official statement from the BJP on Wednesday confirmed that the party has gone ahead with nominating Panihati as her candidate.
BJP’s third list has 19 names
Besides Ratna Debnath from Panihati, the BJP’s third list also includes candidates from Coochbehar Dakshin, Raiganj (SC), Islampur, Hemtabad (SC), English Bazar, Santipur, Howrah Madhya, Uttarpara, Singur, Chandannagar, Chinchura, Haripal, Tamluk, Medinipur, Purbasthali Dakshin, Katwa, Saitia (SC) constituencies. and Nalhati, according to a release from the party.Given the emotional weight of the RG Kar case, and the wider debate it has triggered around women’s safety and justice in West Bengal, Ratna Debnath’s candidacy is likely to attract significant political attention in the coming days.