Santu Pan
Santu Pan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 4 May 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Ramendu Sinharay |
| Constituency | Tarakeswar |
| Personal details | |
| Party |  Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Puja Karmakar |
| Parent | Ananda Pan |
| Alma mater | University of Burdwan |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Profession | |
Santu Pan (born 1997) is a journalist[1] turned Indian politician from West Bengal.[2][3] He is a member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly from the Tarakeswar Assembly constituency in Hooghly district representing the Bharatiya Janata Party.[4][5]
Early life and education
[edit]Pan is from Goghat, Hooghly district of West Bengal. He is the son of Ananda Pan. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in 2018 and Master of Arts in Mass Communication and Journalism in 2020 at University of Burdwan. He is a journalist. He declared assets worth Rs.50 lakhs in his affidavit to the Election Commission of India.[6]
Political career
[edit]Pan won the Tarakeswar Assembly constituency representing the BJP in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election.[7] He polled 1,16,901 votes and defeated his nearest rival and sitting MLA, Ramendu Sinharay of the All India Trinamool Congress by a margin of 30,999 votes.[8][9][10]
Electoral performance
[edit]| Year | Constituency | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | Margin | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tarakeswar | BJP | 116,901 | 52.76 | Ramendu Sinharay | AITC | 85,902 | 38.77 | 30,999 | Won | ||
Controversy
[edit]Pan, was arrested in Sandeshkhali while reporting live, following a local woman's complaint alleging trespassing, assault, and violation of privacy. While Pan and his channel claim the arrest is a targeted move to suppress his reporting, a Basirhat court remanded him to three days of police custody. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and media bodies—including the Editors Guild of India and the Kolkata Press Club—who have raised concerns over press freedom and demanded a fair investigation.[11][12][13]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Indian journalist Santu Pan arrested, 3 others assaulted in West Bengal violence". Committee to Protect Journalists. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ↑ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Archived from the original on 5 May 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "NDTV Elections - Santu Pan". NDTV. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "bjp-candidate-list.pdf" (PDF). voterlistindia.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Santu Pan, TARAKESWAR constituency, BJP, WestBengal Assembly Election 2026: Profile & Affidavit". The Hindu. April 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Santu Pan(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- TARAKESWAR(HOOGHLY) - Affidavit Information of Candidate". www.myneta.info. 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Tarakeswar Election Result 2026 LIVE Updates: West Bengal (Tarakeswar) Assembly Election Results 2026 Winner, Vote Counting, Runner-up". The Indian Express. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Tarakeswar Constituency Election Results 2026: Tarakeswar Assembly Seat Details, MLA Candidates & Winner". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Tarakeswar Election Result 2026 Highlights: BJP's Santu Pan wins Tarakeswar with 116901 votes". India Today. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Tarakeswar, Vidhan Sabha 2026 — IndiaVotes". www.indiavotes.com. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "TV journalist Santu Pan, 27, on Sandeshkhali beat arrested for allegedly outraging modesty". The Telegraph. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ Dey, Sreyashi (21 February 2024). "Journalist arrested while reporting in Sandeshkhali, sent to 3 days police custody". ThePrint. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
- ↑ Staff, T. N. M. (20 February 2024). "Republic TV journalist arrested while covering Sandeshkhali protests". The News Minute. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
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