Suvendu Adhikari’s PA Chandranath Rath shot dead by unidentified assailants 

In a chilling escalation of post-poll violence in West Bengal, Chandranath Rath, a close confidant and personal assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on Wednesday night. The incident occurred in the Madhyamgram area near Kolkata while Rath was traveling in his vehicle. According to initial reports, at least four rounds were fired during the ambush, leaving Rath with fatal injuries to his stomach, chest, and head. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries en route.

The attack was not limited to Rath alone; his driver also sustained injuries during the gunfire and is currently receiving medical treatment. The timing of the murder is significant, coming just hours after Suvendu Adhikari—the winning candidate from the Bhabanipur constituency—had publicly criticized the Trinamool Congress (TMC), citing a history of political violence in the state. The locality remains under heavy police presence as widespread tension gripped Madhyamgram following the news of the killing.

Political reactions were swift and sharp, with BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi directly blaming Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee for the "targeted killing." Bagchi issued a stern ultimatum, stating that Rath’s last rites would not be performed until the perpetrators are arrested.