Rekha Patra, face of Sandeshkhali protests, is BJP's bet from Bengal's Basirhat for Lok Sabha polls

Patra, who is the survivor of the alleged sexual abuse by Shahajhan and his aides, is a resident of Sandeshkhali, which falls in the Basirhat constituency.

Patra had filed a complaint against Shahjahan's two aides, Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra, who have been arrested. She was the one who had recorded her statement before a court magistrate.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA, Suvendu Adhikari, had visited Patra's house and as per reports, he had urged the central party leadership to nominate her as the candidate.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya posted on X, "The BJP has fielded Rekha Patra from Basirhat in Bengal. She is one of the victims of #Sandeshkhali, who suffered at the hands of Sheikh Shahjahan.

"Let Mamata Banerjee wipe the tears of women like her, who are suffering in silence, and are subject to her apathy, before she asks for their vote. Strong statement that @BJP4Bengal stands with the women of #Sandeshkhali and Bengal."

Patra will take on Trinamool Congress' Haji Nurul Islam, who has been fielded by the state's ruling party, dropping actress Nusrat Jahan, who was elected by a record margin of votes from the Muslim-dominated seat in 2019.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.