KOLKATA: BJP on Wednesday evening released its third list of candidates for the Bengal assembly polls, nominating the mother of the RG Kar rape-and-murder victim from her home constituency.The list contained 19 names, bringing the number of candidates picked by the party so far for the upcoming elections to 275. The party is yet to select nominees for 19 more seats, prominent among them being Chowringhee, Krishnanagar (North) and five constituencies in Murshidabad.
There has been intense speculation since last Aug about the RG Kar victim’s mother getting a BJP ticket. She appeared before TV cameras on March 19, saying she wanted to serve as a BJP MLA in the next assembly.
She told TOI on Wednesday, “I appeal to people from all walks of life to support me. A long time has passed since my daughter’s brutal murder, but we are yet to get justice. I have chosen a political platform because I want to fight for justice through the electoral process. Ensuring women’s safety in this state and eradicating corruption in govt hospitals — the very corruption that made my daughter, a brilliant medical student, pay with her life — are my main objectives.”Her husband said their election campaign would start on Thursday. “We are receiving overwhelming support. Many have said they will stand by us. Our victory is almost certain. But this is not just about electoral politics, it is about protecting the public interest and preventing another RG Kar-like incident,” he said.However, there was a backlash to her statement, led by activists from the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement, which had crystallised public revulsion following the horrific crime at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Aug 9, 2024.“I am unimaginably hurt that they joined a party which garlands rapists and upholds patriarchy, as a response to what happened in Aug 2024. Bilkis Bano, Kathua, Unnao… it’s heartbreaking to keep count,” said Rimjhim Sinha, a leading member of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement.Gender activist and convenor of ‘Reclaim the Night United,’ Satabdi Das, said, “Her decision to contest the polls as a BJP candidate is not at all commendable. We believe it won’t bring justice to any victim, including her daughter.”Left Front has nominated Kalatan Dasgupta, a prominent face of the RG Kar protests, from the same constituency. BJP leadership, however, seems to believe that fielding the victim’s mother would unify anti-Trinamool votes in their favour.“Public outrage swelled over the rape and murder of the doctor. We are preparing our lists and manifesto in consultation with a cross section of society. She came to us and said she wanted to protest the lawlessness in the state and needed a chance to do so. She realised that the BJP is the only force that can dislodge this govt. We admired her fighting spirit and decided to nominate her,” said Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya.Trinamool Congress dubbed the mother’s decision “doublespeak”.“Kolkata Police had arrested the killer within 24 hours. The parents moved court seeking a CBI probe. CBI restated the findings of the police probe. It was they who said CBI was compromised. Who runs CBI? They claimed their requests to meet the PM and the Union home minister, even for a minute, were not granted. So why this change of heart? Why this doublespeak? ” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
