Victims’ kin in poll fray may kill or glorify ‘sympathy’ factor: Experts
The Statesman | 30 March 2026
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar victim, from the Panihati constituency in North 24-Parganas, letting quiet chatter over the intention of the parent. While some support her candidature, others seemed ‘pained’ over her ‘sympathy’ card.
The CPI-M has also fielded Sabina Yasmin, the mother of Class V student Tamanna Sheikh, who was killed allegedly during a bypoll victory celebration last year, from Kaliganj in Nadia.
One may argue at the parents’ intentions to jump into the political fray, such instances in the state are not unprecedented.
Remember Tapasi Malik, the Singur girl, who was brutally killed during the agitation against acquisition of land by Tata. Her father later fought the polls as an Independent candidate.
Another case in point is Rukbanur Rahman, who fought on a TMC ticket to be a MLA. His brother, Rizwanur Rahman was also killed and there was an outcry over it.
RG Kar victim’s mother and Tamanna’s mother have said that they have not got justice for their daughters’ death and their win can look like the only way for them to fight the battle.
Analysts have mixed opinions on the issue.
Ruth Rhia Khan, political science professor at St. Paul’s Cathedral Mission College feels that the way justice has been dispensed by the system against Ratna Debnath, the public is aligned with the helplessness she faced. “I think the public will vote in her favour. But how they (parents) will change the politics in the state remains questionable. But, one thing is for sure, her standing for election brings public and media attention back to the case. There might be sentiments against her decision to stand for elections, but when a mother is pushed to such a helpless state, any means available to her has to be explored. There is no more legal course available to her and every means that could get her child justice has been used and defeated.
Associate professor of political science at Bangabasi College Udayan Bandopadhyay feels there should not be any problems if they decide to stand for elections to get justice. “But they should also have kept in mind the atrocities committed in states where the BJP is in power like the Hathras and Unnao incidents in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Dispelling the notion that people’s sentiments are hurt due to the victims’ mothers standing for polls, Prof. Bandopadhyay said there was always a political undercurrent in the protest on the streets as they blamed the state government and the chief minister of the state.
“And there is always a possibility that they might lose. Will their loss mean that Abhaya’s sentiments also defeated?” asked Prof. Bandopadhyay.
Asis Mistry from the political science department, Calcutta University the victory of the victims’ mothers depends on the party they represent and their capability of garnering sympathy votes.
Prof. Mistry adds: “The TMC has an advantage in garnering sympathy votes over the BJP. In their brand of politics, they occupy the ruling as well as the opposition space. In the RG Kar incident, we saw the ruling party was the accused, whereas they were also on the streets protesting against the incident. The Trinamul Congress has never let the opposition space open for any other party. After coming to power they ensured that on bandh days, the state govt staffs was at its strength thus nullifying bandh as a protest tool for any opposition party.