Mother of Murdered Doctor to Contest West Bengal Elections for Justice

In a poignant move, the Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated the mother of a doctor who was tragically raped and murdered in Kolkata as a candidate for the West Bengal Assembly elections. Contesting from the Panihati constituency, she aims to advocate for women's safety and seek justice for her daughter. With elections set for late April, her campaign highlights the pressing issues of women's rights and safety in the state. This decision comes in the wake of widespread protests following her daughter's death, which has drawn national attention to the need for reform in women's safety measures. Her determination to serve the community reflects a personal mission to ensure that such tragedies do not recur.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 26, 2026, 11:39 IST

BJP Nominates Doctor's Mother for Assembly Elections

On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced that the mother of a doctor who was tragically raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital in August 2024 will be a candidate in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

She will represent the Panihati constituency in the North 24 Parganas district, as part of a list of 19 candidates revealed by the BJP.

This constituency has been under the control of Trinamool Congress’ Nirmal Ghosh since 2011, who has now nominated his son, Tirthankar Ghosh, for the upcoming election.

The doctor’s mother expressed her motivation for running, stating she aims to “fight for justice” for her daughter and advocate for women's safety in the state, as reported by a local media outlet.

“My sole focus is on women’s safety,” she remarked. “I will be a voice for those who have forgotten how to protest…”

She further stated, “If I can assist the community, my daughter would be proud. I want the BJP’s symbol, the lotus, to flourish throughout West Bengal and see the TMC removed from power.”

The elections are scheduled to take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes set for May 4.

On August 9, 2024, a 31-year-old trainee doctor was discovered deceased within the hospital grounds, an incident that ignited nationwide protests.

Sanjoy Roy, found guilty of the doctor’s rape and murder, received a life sentence in January 2025.

In February 2025, the Calcutta High Court accepted an appeal from the Central Bureau of Investigation, which sought a death penalty for Roy.

Following the horrific incident, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front organized protests for several weeks, demanding the resignation of senior officials and an end to the prevailing “threat culture” in medical institutions across the state.

Healthcare services in West Bengal faced significant disruptions as doctors at state-run hospitals went on strike in response to the incident.

The CBI is also investigating alleged evidence tampering in this case, along with claims of corruption at the medical facility, involving the hospital’s former principal and a past officer-in-charge of the local police station.