The killing of Chandranath Rath, close aide and personal assistant to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, has sent shockwaves across West Bengal and triggered a fresh political storm over continuing post-poll violence in the state.
Rath, 41, was shot dead late Wednesday (May 6) night in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district when unidentified assailants allegedly intercepted his vehicle and opened fire at close range. The murder came only hours after Rath had reportedly spent the day urging BJP workers to maintain peace amid sporadic incidents of violence reported after the Assembly election results.
But beyond his political identity, Chandranath Rath’s journey reflected an unusual transition, from an Indian Air Force veteran inspired by the Ramakrishna Mission to one of Suvendu Adhikari’s most trusted organisational figures in Bengal politics.
Who was Chandranath Rath?
Chandranath Rath hailed from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, a politically significant region closely associated with Suvendu Adhikari’s rise in Bengal politics.
Known among party workers as soft-spoken and low-profile, Rath largely stayed away from the public spotlight despite being a crucial member of Adhikari’s inner circle for years.
Before entering political organisational work, Rath spent nearly two decades serving in the Indian Air Force after completing his education at Rahara Ramakrishna Mission. People close to the family said Rath was deeply influenced by the spiritual values and discipline of the Ramakrishna Mission during his student years and had once even considered a spiritual path in life.
After opting for voluntary retirement from the Air Force, Rath briefly worked in the corporate sector before gradually moving towards political coordination and administrative responsibilities.
Long association with Suvendu Adhikari
Rath’s family, much like Adhikari’s, was earlier associated with the Trinamool Congress before shifting to the BJP in 2020 along with Suvendu Adhikari.
His mother, Hasi Rath, had reportedly held a position in a local panchayat body during the TMC years in Purba Medinipur.
According to family acquaintances and BJP insiders, the relationship between the Rath family and Adhikari dates back over two decades to the early expansion phase of the Trinamool Congress in Purba Medinipur.
Rath formally became part of Adhikari’s official team around 2019 when the latter was serving as a minister in the Mamata Banerjee-led government. Initially, he handled work linked to Adhikari’s ministerial office and later continued in a similar role after Adhikari switched to the BJP.
Over time, Rath emerged as one of the most trusted backroom strategists in Adhikari’s political operations. He coordinated organisational work, managed logistics, maintained communication with party workers and was often entrusted with politically sensitive assignments linked to campaign management.
BJP insiders stated in the media that Rath enjoyed Adhikari’s “complete confidence” and was considered indispensable during several high-voltage political battles, including the BJP’s Bhabanipur campaign.
Within sections of the BJP organisation, there had reportedly been discussions that Rath could be entrusted with a larger administrative role if Adhikari assumed a bigger responsibility in government after the Assembly elections.
How was Chandranath Rath killed?
According to preliminary reports, Rath was returning to his residence in Madhyamgram late Wednesday night when the attack took place.
Sources said his Scorpio vehicle was intercepted barely 200 metres away from his residence after another car allegedly blocked the road. As the vehicle slowed down, multiple motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at close range before fleeing from the spot.
Investigators suspect that at least eight attackers travelling on four motorcycles were involved in the shooting. All of them were reportedly wearing helmets.
Police are also probing the role of a suspicious vehicle carrying a Siliguri registration code (WB 74), which allegedly intercepted Rath’s car moments before the firing. West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta later stated that investigators suspect the number plate may have been fake.
Rath sustained two bullet injuries to the chest and was declared brought dead at the hospital.
His driver, Buddhadev Bera, suffered multiple gunshot injuries to the chest, abdomen and hand and was later shifted to Apollo Multispeciality Hospital in Kolkata for treatment.
‘Cold-blooded murder’: BJP alleges political targeting
The killing triggered massive outrage among BJP workers, with senior leaders rushing to the hospital late into the night.
Suvendu Adhikari reached the hospital shortly after midnight and termed the killing a “cold-blooded murder”. BJP leaders alleged that Rath had been specifically targeted and demanded strict action against those responsible.
The incident took place against the backdrop of mounting political tension in West Bengal after the Assembly election results declared on May 4. The BJP and the Trinamool Congress have repeatedly accused each other of fuelling post-poll violence across several districts.
Ironically, only hours before his death, Rath had reportedly appealed to BJP workers in Chandipur to avoid retaliatory violence and maintain peace.
“Dada has requested you all to stay calm and not indulge or resort to any violence,” Rath had told local BJP workers earlier in the day while referring to Suvendu Adhikari.
BJP worker Rohit Roy shot dead In Basirhat
Hours after Rath’s killing, another violent incident was reported from Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district, where BJP worker Rohit Roy alias Chintu was allegedly shot during a clash over the placement of BJP flags in the locality.
According to BJP sources, the clash erupted in the Gotra area when party workers were putting up BJP flags. BJP leaders alleged that “TMC-sheltered miscreants” opened fire during the confrontation.
Roy sustained bullet injuries in the abdomen and was rushed to Basirhat state-run hospital. Though doctors initially described his condition as critical but stable, later reports confirmed that he succumbed to his injuries.
Before his death, a video circulated by BJP’s media cell allegedly showed Roy accusing a group of 8 to 10 TMC workers of attacking him while BJP workers were putting up flags in the locality.
Series of attacks on BJP workers
The killing of Chandranath Rath and Rohit Roy came amid multiple reports of attacks on BJP workers from different parts of West Bengal following the election results.
In Howrah’s Udaynarayanpur area, a 45-year-old BJP worker identified as Jadhav Bor was allegedly beaten to death on May 4 after reportedly participating in local celebrations following the BJP’s electoral performance.
According to family members, Bor had stepped out to bathe near his locality when a group of men allegedly attacked him. Relatives claimed the attackers questioned him over his political affiliation before assaulting him with rods. He was rushed to Udaynarayanpur State General Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The BJP alleged that the attack was politically motivated, while police sources reportedly indicated that the incident may have stemmed from a dispute between individuals known to each other. Investigations are ongoing.
In another incident from Rajarhat–New Town, BJP worker Madhu Mandal was allegedly beaten to death during a ‘Bijay Michil’ or victory procession soon after election results were declared.
According to reports, Mandal was participating in celebrations when alleged TMC workers attacked him. The incident occurred within hours of BJP candidate Piyush Kanodia winning the Rajarhat–New Town seat by a narrow margin of 316 votes after a recount.
Kanodia later attended the slain worker’s last rites and stated, “I have just taken charge as an MLA, and it hasn’t even been four hours, and I am having to place a garland on my brother’s body.”
Meanwhile, violence was also reported from Jalpaiguri district, where at least six BJP workers were allegedly attacked with sharp weapons while heading towards Bodaganj Temple for prayers.
According to reports, the attackers were allegedly associated with TMC candidate Krishna Das and were seen carrying swords during a post-poll march. The injured BJP workers were admitted to hospital for treatment.
The incidents have further intensified the already volatile political atmosphere in West Bengal, with BJP leaders alleging targeted attacks on party workers and demanding strict action against those responsible.
