Daijiworld Media Network - Panihati

Panihati, May 4: Ratna Debnath, mother of the R.G. Kar Hospital victim and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, has taken an early lead from the Panihati constituency in the ongoing civic polls.

Debnath, whose daughter’s tragic case at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital had triggered widespread outrage across West Bengal, entered the electoral fray amid intense public attention and political backing from the BJP.

According to initial counting trends, Debnath is ahead of her nearest rival, making the Panihati contest one of the most closely watched in the polls.

Her candidature has drawn sharp political reactions, with the BJP projecting her as a symbol of justice, while opposition parties criticised the move as politicising a sensitive issue.

Despite the political divide, her campaign appears to have resonated with sections of voters, as reflected in the early lead. Counting of votes is still underway, and final results are awaited.