Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant and trusted inner-circle aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on the night of May 6 — less than 48 hours after the BJP’s historic landslide victory in the West Bengal assembly elections.
Rath was shot at close range by motorcycle-borne assailants who opened fire on his vehicle on a public road and fled the scene immediately. He sustained multiple bullet injuries to the head, chest and leg and was rushed to a private hospital where he was declared dead.
According to initial reports, Rath was seated inside his black Scorpio vehicle bearing a West Bengal Assembly sticker and was interacting with locals when the attackers approached and opened fire at point-blank range. At least four rounds were fired, with three bullets hitting him. His driver Buddhadeb was injured in the attack and taken to hospital.
Suvendu Adhikari, who was not present at the time of the attack, rushed to the hospital. His brother Dibyendu Adhikari sought a CBI probe and alleged Trinamool Congress involvement in the killing.
His mother’s reaction from Purba Medinipur
Hasirani Rath, Chandranath’s mother, spoke from their family home in Chandipur, Purba Medinipur, in a statement that has moved people across the state. “I want the guilty to be punished. I am a mother, I do not want them to be hanged. I want life imprisonment for them,” she said.
She directly linked the killing to the election result. “They did this because the BJP came to power. Those from the ruling party who were making various provocative comments — who were saying that after the 4th, the fathers of Delhi will not be able to save us — after the 4th, they showed it.”
#WATCH | Chandipur, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal: Hasirani Rath, mother of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandra, who was shot dead near Madhyamgram last night, says, "I want the guilty to be punished. I am a mother, I do not want them to be hanged. I want life imprisonment… pic.twitter.com/h1OMxWFbO3
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2026
She added: “If my son had died in an accident, I would not have been so sad. The way the miscreants tortured and killed my son — since Suvendu Babu defeated Mamata Banerjee, my family has faced such a danger.”
Who was Chandranath Rath
Chandranath Rath was the Executive Assistant to Suvendu Adhikari, handling the BJP leader’s political coordination and other work. He had been working for Adhikari for many years and was considered a trusted member of his inner circle. He was an Air Force veteran before entering political work.
The post-poll violence context
The killing has come amidst a wave of post-poll violence in West Bengal. Earlier on Tuesday, TMC was accused of murdering a BJP worker in Rajarhat-Newtown assembly constituency. The cycle of violence following the election results shows no signs of abating.
Authorities have mobilised a large police contingent in Madhyamgram. Forensic experts are working at the crime scene while authorities examine CCTV footage to track the perpetrators. Security has been heightened around the residences of key political personalities including Suvendu Adhikari.
Rajya Sabha MP Rahul Sinha alleged there was a larger conspiracy to kill Suvendu Adhikari himself, and demanded strict action. The BJP has demanded a CBI inquiry.