Ratna Debnath, the mother of the doctor killed at RG Kar Medical College, has entered the West Bengal assembly election as a BJP candidate, naming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as her primary opponent and vowing not to comb her hair until her daughter receives justice. Debnath said she will file her nomination soon. West Bengal's 294-seat assembly will go to the polls in two phases. The first phase, covering 152 constituencies, is scheduled for April 23. The second phase, covering the remaining 142 constituencies, follows on April 29. Vote counting is set for May 4.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-blog-kerala-assam-puducherry-assembly-elections-2026-live-updates-voting-day-election-commission-of-india-bjp-congress-inc-nda-1775697488353">Keralam, Assam, Puducherry&nbsp;Assembly Elections 2026 LIVE Updates: Over 15% voter turnout till 9 am</a><h2>Why didn't Mamata Banerjee save my daughter?</h2>Channelling nearly eight months of grief and anger into a direct electoral challenge against the woman she holds responsible for what happened to her daughter, Debnath announced "My main enemy is Mamata Banerjee because she's the Health Minister, and my daughter worked for the Health Department"."Why didn't Mamata Banerjee save my daughter?" she questioned. "I'll take an oath until my daughter gets justice - I won't comb my hair. I'll file the nomination tomorrow. People are supporting me and want to see Mamata Banerjee defeated," said Debnath," she added.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/motive-behind-delhi-assembly-security-breach-revealed-attempted-murder-or-desperate-bid-for-police-assistance-1775550747506">Delhi Assembly security breach motive REVEALED: Attempted murder or desperation?</a><h2>RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case</h2>On August 9, 2024, a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was found raped and murdered inside a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The crime triggered an enormous wave of protests across India, with demonstrations in the medical community drawing particular attention as doctors and students took to the streets demanding accountability.The Calcutta High Court, dissatisfied with the Kolkata Police's handling of the investigation, transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI has since made multiple arrests, though the case continues to move through the courts.Mamata Banerjee, who holds the health portfolio in addition to the chief ministership, faced sustained criticism over the state government's initial response to the incident, including allegations of evidence tampering and delayed action that the administration has denied.

Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim, has entered the election race, taking on Mamata Banerjee and vowing justice for her daughter. “I'll take an oath until my daughter gets justice - I won't comb my hair,” she said.

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Ratna Debnath, the mother of the doctor killed at RG Kar Medical College, has entered the West Bengal assembly election as a BJP candidate, naming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as her primary opponent and vowing not to comb her hair until her daughter receives justice. Debnath said she will file her nomination soon. West Bengal's 294-seat assembly will go to the polls in two phases. The first phase, covering 152 constituencies, is scheduled for April 23. The second phase, covering the remaining 142 constituencies, follows on April 29. Vote counting is set for May 4. Also read | Keralam, Assam, Puducherry Assembly Elections 2026 LIVE Updates: Over 15% voter turnout till 9 am Why didn't Mamata Banerjee save my daughter? Channelling nearly eight months of grief and anger into a direct electoral challenge against the woman she holds responsible for what happened to her daughter, Debnath announced "My main enemy is Mamata Banerjee because she's the Health Minister, and my daughter worked for the Health Department". "Why didn't Mamata Banerjee save my daughter?" she questioned. "I'll take an oath until my daughter gets justice - I won't comb my hair. I'll file the nomination tomorrow. People are supporting me and want to see Mamata Banerjee defeated," said Debnath," she added. Also read | Delhi Assembly security breach motive REVEALED: Attempted murder or desperation? RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case On August 9, 2024, a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was found raped and murdered inside a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The crime triggered an enormous wave of protests across India, with demonstrations in the medical community drawing particular attention as doctors and students took to the streets demanding accountability. The Calcutta High Court, dissatisfied with the Kolkata Police's handling of the investigation, transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI has since made multiple arrests, though the case continues to move through the courts. Mamata Banerjee, who holds the health portfolio in addition to the chief ministership, faced sustained criticism over the state government's initial response to the incident, including allegations of evidence tampering and delayed action that the administration has denied.

Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim, has entered the election race, taking on Mamata Banerjee and vowing justice for her daughter. “I'll take an oath until my daughter gets justice - I won't comb my hair,” she said.Scroll down to read more.

'Why didn't she save my daughter?': Mother of RG Kar rape-murder victim enters West Bengal election fray, vows to defeat Mamata Banerjee

88-year old Suprabuddha Sen says he doesn't care anymore about being disenfranchised. He claims that those who deleted his name from the voter list should be able to answer why he is not in the list. The West Bengal SIR exercise has resulted in the deletion of around 25 lakh voters from the electoral roll, specifically belonging to the underprivileged sections of society. However, in some cases, the exercise has resulted in the exclusion of people who belonged to the upper strata of society.&nbsp;Suprabuddha Sen is a resident of Shantiniketan and worked as an engineer in Damodar Valley Corporation for 32 years. He is the maternal grandson of the Artist Nandalal Bose. Nandalal Bose was a pioneer in modern Indian art and a key figure of Contextual Modernism. He illustrated the original manuscript of the Constitution of India and was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1954.&nbsp;“I submitted all documents, including my matriculation certificate, passport, employment records, pension payment order, but still they kept the name under adjudication and later deleted it. Similarly, my wife also submitted all the pertinent documents that they asked for, but still her name has been removed from the voter list,” said Suprabudhha Sen.&nbsp;Wing Commander Md Shamim Akhtar, a decorated IAF officer, served the nation for 17 years. He once held a diplomatic passport; his name was placed “under adjudication” and then later deleted. He said that his name was there in the final list, but in the first supplementary list on March 23, it was marked ‘under adjudication’. "I contacted my BLO, Mondal, but he did not tell me any procedure to follow and assured me that it would be restored automatically. Then on March 28, when my name was deleted in the second list, the BLO told me to hire a lawyer and approach the tribunal,” said Md Shamim Akhtar.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-west-bengal-voter-deletion-tribunal-assembly-election-2026-1775541778899">'We don't want to rush it': Supreme Court refuses interim relief as 25 lakh deleted voters await tribunal hearing</a>Kargil war veteran, Mohammad Dual Ali, who sustained combat injuries, was brought “under adjudication” despite providing substantial documents. His name, along with the names of three other members of his family, was removed. "..three other members of my family, two daughters and one son, have also been included in the adjudication list, despite one being a judicial officer,” said Dua Ali to the Wire.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Is the EC targeting a particular community in order to improve the chances of the BJP winning? Is the EC targeting a particular community in order to improve the chances of the BJP winning? <a href="https://t.co/7Z5Wv0Pmzx">https://t.co/7Z5Wv0Pmzx</a>&mdash; Dr Aniruddha Malpani, MD (@malpani) <a href="https://twitter.com/malpani/status/2040634761014624760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The state’s Chief Secretary, Nandini Chakraborty, was also placed in the “under adjudication” category. Notably, hours after announcing the assembly election schedule, the Election Commission of India removed West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty from her position. Other notable mentions include Richa Gosh, a member of India's 2025 ICC Women's World Cup-winning squad and a celebrated cricketer from Siliguri, who was placed “under adjudication”. She was with India's Women's team in Australia when her name was placed “under adjudication”.&nbsp;Shashi Panja, a cabinet minister and long-serving MLA, Ghulam Rabbani West Bengal's Minister for Environment and Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Mohammad Selim a two-time Panchayat Pradhan, two-time MLA from Baduria, and former high school teacher, and Baikuntha Bagchi An 86-year-old man reported to be the uncle of Justice Joymalya Bagchi, &nbsp;the Supreme Court judge who is presiding over the SIR cases, were either placed “under adjudication” or deleted.Only in the Metro city of South Calcutta, 36 per cent of under adjudication voter accounting for approximately at least 28,468 have been deleted, for North Calcutta, it is 64 per cent, approximately 39,164. The whole West Bengal SIR exercise has turned into a monumental failure either due to the mismanagement by the institutions of the Government of India, or due to a structural flaw in the Indian constitution, which vests extraordinary power in its executive branches, thus failing to secure impartiality of the institution.

West Bengal’s voter roll revision has led to the deletion of nearly 25 lakh names, including veterans, officials and citizens despite valid documents, raising concerns over disenfranchisement and electoral integrity.

88-year old Suprabuddha Sen says he doesn't care anymore about being disenfranchised. He claims that those who deleted his name from the voter list should be able to answer why he is not in the list. The West Bengal SIR exercise has resulted in the deletion of around 25 lakh voters from the electoral roll, specifically belonging to the underprivileged sections of society. However, in some cases, the exercise has resulted in the exclusion of people who belonged to the upper strata of society. Suprabuddha Sen is a resident of Shantiniketan and worked as an engineer in Damodar Valley Corporation for 32 years. He is the maternal grandson of the Artist Nandalal Bose. Nandalal Bose was a pioneer in modern Indian art and a key figure of Contextual Modernism. He illustrated the original manuscript of the Constitution of India and was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1954. “I submitted all documents, including my matriculation certificate, passport, employment records, pension payment order, but still they kept the name under adjudication and later deleted it. Similarly, my wife also submitted all the pertinent documents that they asked for, but still her name has been removed from the voter list,” said Suprabudhha Sen. Wing Commander Md Shamim Akhtar, a decorated IAF officer, served the nation for 17 years. He once held a diplomatic passport; his name was placed “under adjudication” and then later deleted. He said that his name was there in the final list, but in the first supplementary list on March 23, it was marked ‘under adjudication’. "I contacted my BLO, Mondal, but he did not tell me any procedure to follow and assured me that it would be restored automatically. Then on March 28, when my name was deleted in the second list, the BLO told me to hire a lawyer and approach the tribunal,” said Md Shamim Akhtar. Also Read: 'We don't want to rush it': Supreme Court refuses interim relief as 25 lakh deleted voters await tribunal hearing Kargil war veteran, Mohammad Dual Ali, who sustained combat injuries, was brought “under adjudication” despite providing substantial documents. His name, along with the names of three other members of his family, was removed. "..three other members of my family, two daughters and one son, have also been included in the adjudication list, despite one being a judicial officer,” said Dua Ali to the Wire.

West Bengal’s voter roll revision has led to the deletion of nearly 25 lakh names, including veterans, officials and citizens despite valid documents, raising concerns over disenfranchisement and electoral integrity.

From veterans to bureaucrats: Voter roll deletions in West Bengal raise serious concerns over disenfranchisement

The Election Commission (EC) of India has given a stern warning &nbsp;to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the upcoming polls, stressing that West Bengal’s assembly elections must be conducted without “fear, violence, intimidation and inducement.” The poll body also warned against any malpractice that includes booth capturing, booth jamming, and “source jamming,” a term used for obstructing voter mobilisation or access. “ECI's straight-talk to Trinamool Congress,” the election authority said in a post on X. “This time, the elections in West Bengal would surely be: Fear-free, Violence-free, Intimidation-free, Inducement-free and without any Raid, Booth Jamming and Source Jamming.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">चुनाव आयोग की तृणमूल कांग्रेस को दो टूक पश्चिम बंगाल में इस बार चुनाव: भय रहित, हिंसा रहित, धमकी रहित, प्रलोभन रहित, छापा रहित, बूथ एवं सोर्स जामिंग रहित होकर ही रहेंगे ECI&#39;s Straight-talk to Trinamool Congress This time, the Elections in West Bengal would surely be :… <a href="https://t.co/p5fM8Uu337">pic.twitter.com/p5fM8Uu337</a>&mdash; Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ECISVEEP/status/2041740335609737657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Earlier on Wednesday, a meeting between a TMC delegation and the EC turned contentious. TMC MP Derek O’Brien alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar told them to “get lost” within minutes, while the EC countered that O’Brien was disruptive, shouting and attempting to prevent the CEC from speaking. During the meeting, the TMC submitted letters from Mamata Banerjee and raised objections over poll officials they claim have links to the BJP. Friction between the party and the EC has escalated over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the TMC accusing the poll body of favouring the BJP by removing voters. TMC claimed that out of 60 lakh voters under review, 27 lakh have been deleted. The total electorate in West Bengal now stands at 7.04 crore, down from 7.66 crore before the SIR process, excluding those still under adjudication.<h3>History of violence in West Bengal during elections</h3>West Bengal has continuously experienced election-related violence over the past two decades, where hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured during campaigns and polling. The 2021 Assembly elections were particularly severe, recording over 1,300 violent incidents, 25 deaths, and around 7,000 molestation cases were reported, according to a Call of Justice fact-finding committee report. The report also noted that the extent of violence under the TMC's tenure has frequently surpassed levels seen under the earlier Left Front government.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-utterly-shameful-and-unacceptable-priyanka-gandhi-hits-out-at-himanta-biswa-sarma-over-remarks-on-kharge-1775645609219">‘Utterly shameful and unacceptable’: Priyanka Gandhi hits out at Himanta Biswa Sarma over remarks on Kharge</a>

The Election Commission (EC) of India warned TMC against any malpractice that includes booth capturing, booth jamming, and “source jamming,” a term used for obstructing voter mobilisation or access.

The Election Commission (EC) of India has given a stern warning to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the upcoming polls, stressing that West Bengal’s assembly elections must be conducted without “fear, violence, intimidation and inducement.” The poll body also warned against any malpractice that includes booth capturing, booth jamming, and “source jamming,” a term used for obstructing voter mobilisation or access. “ECI's straight-talk to Trinamool Congress,” the election authority said in a post on X. “This time, the elections in West Bengal would surely be: Fear-free, Violence-free, Intimidation-free, Inducement-free and without any Raid, Booth Jamming and Source Jamming.”

The Election Commission (EC) of India warned TMC against any malpractice that includes booth capturing, booth jamming, and “source jamming,” a term used for obstructing voter mobilisation or access.

'This time, elections in WB would surely be...': EC issues stern warning to TMC ahead of Bengal polls

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'Why didn't she save my daughter?': Mother of RG Kar rape-murder victim enters West Bengal election fray, vows to defeat Mamata Banerjee

Veterans, officials, athletes among 25 lakh deleted from Bengal voter rolls

'This time, elections would be...': EC issues warns TMC ahead of Bengal polls