Ratna Debnath won the Panihati Assembly constituency as a BJP candidate on May 4, 2026. She secured victory by a margin of 28,836 votes against Tirthankar Ghosh from TMC. Debnath received 87,977 votes while Ghosh garnered 59,141 votes.
Key facts:
- Kalatan Dasgupta from CPI(M) finished third with 24,032 votes.
- This was Ratna Debnath’s debut election.
- Her campaign focused on women’s safety and accountability in governance.
- Debnath’s candidacy was linked to the rape and murder of her daughter at RG Kar Medical College.
- The BJP achieved a historic win in West Bengal, securing over two-thirds of the seats.
Debnath stated, “This victory is the victory of the people of Panihati, of the entire Bengal.” She dedicated her win to Prime Minister Modi and emphasized that she could not have done it alone. The election results indicate a notable political shift in West Bengal.
