Rekha Patra
Rekha Patra | |
|---|---|
| Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 4 May 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Debes Mondal |
| Constituency | Hingalganj |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Sandip Patra |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Uttar Bowthakurani F.P. School (4th Pass) |
| Occupation | Politician, Social Activist |
| Signature |  |
Rekha Patra (born c. 1993) is an Indian politician and social activist serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she was elected from the Hingalganj (SC) constituency in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. She rose to national prominence in early 2024 as one of the leading voices of the Sandeshkhali protests, advocating against alleged systemic harassment and land-grabbing in the North 24 Parganas district.[1][2]
Sandeshkhali violence
[edit]In early 2024, Patra emerged as a prominent figure during the grassroots movement in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. She was among the first women to publicly allege sexual harassment, physical violence, and land-grabbing by local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates[3][4]
Political career
[edit]2024 Lok Sabha Election
[edit]Following her rise as a symbolic face of resistance, the BJP nominated Patra as its candidate for the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 Indian general election.[5] Despite a high-profile campaign, she lost to the Trinamool Congress candidate, Haji Nurul Islam, by a margin of over 3.33 lakh votes.[6]
2026 West Bengal Assembly Election
[edit]In the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the BJP fielded Patra from the Hingalganj constituency, a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).
On May 4, 2026, Patra secured a historic victory, defeating the TMC candidate by a margin of 5,421 votes. Her win was part of a broader political shift in the 2026 elections, where several grassroots activists and victims of high-profile incidents were elected to the state assembly.[7][8]
| Year | Election | Constituency | Party | Votes | Margin | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lok Sabha | Basirhat | BJP | 4,70,215 | −3,33,547 | Lost |
| 2026 | West Bengal Assembly | Hingalganj (SC) | BJP | 1,00,207[7] | +5,421 | Won |
Personal life
[edit]Rekha Patra continues to reside in Sandeshkhali. According to her 2024 election affidavit, she lived in a modest house and declared assets worth approximately ₹25,000, making her one of the most economically grassroots candidates in the state's political history. She has two daughter and a son.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ India, Press Trust of (2024-03-25). "After BJP Picks Sandeshkhali Survivor As Candidate, Posters Against Her". www.ndtv.com. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ Singh, Monica (2026-05-04). "West Bengal Election Results 2026: Who is Rekha Patra? Sandeshkhali survivor leads in Hingalganj against TMC's Ananda Sarkar". DNA India. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Who is Sheikh Shahjahan, the controversial TMC leader of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal?". Hindustan Times. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Who is Shahjahan Sheikh, TMC's Sandeshkhali strongman arrested by West Bengal Police?". The Indian Express. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "রাতে প্রার্থী ঘোষণা বিজেপির, সকালেই রেখা পাত্রর বিরুদ্ধে পোস্টার সন্দেশখালিতে". sangbadpratidin (in Bengali). 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Sandeshkhali Victim, BJP's Rekha Patra, Loses Basirhat By 3.3 Lakh Votes". www.ndtv.com. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- 1 2 Molla, Julfikar; Paul, Sudip (2026-05-04). "হিঙ্গলগঞ্জও বিজেপির দখলে , হাড্ডাহাড্ডি লড়াই শেষে জয়ের হাসি রেখা পাত্রর". News18 Bengali (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Hingalganj Election Result 2026 Highlights: BJP's Rekha Patra wins Hingalganj with 100207 votes". India Today. 2026-05-04. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Rekha Patra". Election Commission India. Retrieved 7 May 2026.