Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has claimed his aide - Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead near his home in North 24 Parganas' Madhyamgram - was killed because he defeated Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur election.

"He was killed because he was my aide and I defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. This could be the reason for his murder…" Adhikari told reporters Thursday after meeting Rath's family. "No matter how much we condemn how this murder was carried out, it is not enough. I stand with his family's demand… to apprehend those who committed this murder and ensure they are punished. The postmortem revealed four bullets were fired... this was premeditated."

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's brother, Dibyendu Adhikari, told NDTV that three men have been detained by the police in connection with the shooting of Chandranath Rath. He alleged it was a pre-planned murder, adding, "Suvendu is always with Chandra; he may have been with him yesterday as well. We will take all possible actions to bring the perpetrators to justice."

“The only reason behind Chandranath Rath’s murder is that he was my executive assistant and that I had defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. I will fulfil all my responsibilities,” BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said.

On the murder of Chandranath, his younger brother Dev Kumar says, "...Whoever has hatched this conspiracy should be given the harshest punishments. We had spoken to him around 2 PM yesterday."

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, WB: On the murder of Chandranath, his younger brother Dev Kumar says, "...Whoever has hatched this conspiracy should be given the harshest punishments. We had spoken to him around 2 PM yesterday." pic.twitter.com/LipVRVd1Qj

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2026

Unanswered questions loom large over Suvendu aide's killing @ParmeshwarBawa pic.twitter.com/kBzTzpiO0Y

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 7, 2026

The car of Chandranath Rath, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant who was shot dead in West Bengal's Madhyamgram on Wednesday night, was blocked by a vehicle with a fake number plate before a gang of assailants riding motorcycles pumped three bullets into him, said investigators as they weave a sequence of events that led to the murder.

The sensational murder took place at around 10.30 pm. The victim's car was intercepted near Doltala in Madhyamgram by motorcycle-borne assailants who tailed his vehicle. The car with the fake number plate reportedly forced Rath's car to stop in the middle of the road. The bike-borne attackers then shot him through the car's window.

The occupants of the car with the fake number plate abandoned the vehicle and escaped on the motorcycle.

A doctor at the hospital told PTI that the victim was brought dead with bullet injuries to his chest, including one to his heart.

The BJP on Thursday stepped up the demand for the arrest of those involved in the killing of a close aide of its leader Suvendu Adhikari, alleging that the murder was a testament to "complete collapse" of law and order in the state under the rule of the TMC government.

The saffron party also accused the TMC of fostering "lawlessness" after losing power in the recent assembly polls.

In a shocking development within 48 hours of the assembly poll verdict, Chandranath Rath, Adhikari's executive assistant, was shot dead in a brazen attack at Madhyamgram on Wednesday night, escalating tension in the area.

"A person closely associated with the leader of the opposition was targeted in a planned manner. This shows how law and order have deteriorated under the Mamata Banerjee government, which the people of Bengal have thrown out of power," a BJP leader said.

BJP's Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said the killing of his personal assistant (PA), Chandranath Rath, was a "pre-planned murder" and alleged that the killers had carried out "recce for two to three days".

Speaking to reporters outside the hospital where Rath was taken after the attack, Adhikari said the incident was a "cold-blooded murder".

"The incident is heart-wrenching; we condemn the incident," he said.

Adhikari said Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta had assured him that the matter would be investigated thoroughly.

"The way the attack was executed clearly suggests that the assailants had done a recce beforehand," he alleged.

He said that Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, a former West Bengal BJP president, has spoken to Rath's family.

The West Bengal Police are examining CCTV footage and have formed several teams to trace the assailants as part of its investigation into the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide, a senior officer said on Thursday.

The police are also probing whether contract killers were engaged in the murder of Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night. "Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the crime spot and nearby areas, while multiple police teams have been formed to trace the assailants," the police officer said.

Chandranath Rath, the close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who was shot dead in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, had travelled an unusual path - from serving in the Indian Air Force to becoming one of the opposition leader's most trusted political associates.

Rath, 41, originally hailed from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, the political turf that shaped Adhikari's rise in Bengal politics, party sources said.

Soft-spoken and low-profile, he remained largely away from public attention despite being part of Adhikari's inner circle for years.

Before entering active political organisational work, Rath had spent nearly two decades in the Indian Air Force after completing his studies at Rahara Ramakrishna Mission.

People close to the family said he had once considered a spiritual life and was deeply influenced by the Ramakrishna Mission ethos during his student years.

Visuals from outside the Barasat State General Hospital where BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandranath Rath's mortal remains were brought after he was shot dead last night near Madhyamgram

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal | Visuals from outside the Barasat State General Hospital where BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandranath Rath's mortal remains were brought after he was shot dead last night near Madhyamgram pic.twitter.com/64c7u800Br

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2026

In a shocking development within 48 hours of the assembly poll verdict, Rath, Adhikari's executive assistant, was shot dead in a brazen attack at Madhyamgram on Wednesday night, triggering sharp political reactions and escalating tension in the area.Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
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#WATCH | North 24 Parganas | Forensic team investigates the vehicle in which BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandra was shot dead near Madhyamgram pic.twitter.com/JMYBPRjP1d

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026

BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta termed the killing of Suvendu Adhikari's close aide, Chandranath Rath, a "pre-planned political assassination". Blaming the Trinamool Congress for the murder, Dasgupta said Rath was at the heart of Adhikari's political office and that the killing was a carefully targeted assassination.

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas | On Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandra shot dead in Madhyamgram, BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta says, "I worked with Chandra very closely for different political campaigns. This was not an accidental death, but a pre-planned political assassination, a murder… pic.twitter.com/wibRz5ysty

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar reacted to the murder of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant, saying that those involved in the crime will not be spared. Calling Chandranath Rath's murder a "tragic incident", Majumdar said significant progress has been made in the police investigation and everyone will be brought to justice through the legal process.

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas | On Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandra shot dead in Madhyamgram, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar says, "This is a tragic incident and the police are investigating the matter... The DGP has informed us that significant progress has been made in the… pic.twitter.com/c9FqQNHVEn

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said the murder of his aide, Chandranath Rath, was "pre-planned" and that a recce was conducted for 2-3 days before he was killed.

"Our entire leadership in Delhi has been briefed about this. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar spoke to the family and the police… Various leaders and selected MLAs have come here from their respective regions… The police have found some evidence and will investigate further," Suvendu Adhikari said while speaking to the media.

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas | On his PA, Chandra shot dead in Madhyamgram, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "This is a pre-planned murder, and this is what DGP said. A recce was done for 2-3 days and a murdered was fully planned. The police initiated investigation... We are… pic.twitter.com/XqcQR8Vz8D

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026

BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari reached the hospital where his personal assistant Chandranath Rath was taken after he was shot and succumbed to the injuries near Madhyamgram.

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal | BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari reaches the hospital where his PA Chandra was taken after he was shot and succumbed to the injuries near Madhyamgram
(Source: Suvendhu Adhikari's Office) https://t.co/0kAKzKZ5yW pic.twitter.com/hT1spXaAWx

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026

West Bengal DGP Siddh Nath Gupta said an investigation into the matter has begun, and police have also seized the four-wheeler used in the crime.

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas | On Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandra shot dead in Madhyamgram, West Bengal DGP Siddh Nath Gupta says, "We have started the investigation of the case. We have seized the 4-wheeler used in the crime, but it is being reported that the number plate of the car… pic.twitter.com/Ds87pvotIb

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas | On Suvendu Adhikari's PA Chandra shot dead in Madhyamgram, BJP leader Swapan Majumder says, "This is a condemnable incident. The person who was killed was not politically involved, but an ordinary worker of the opposition leader. With this incident,… pic.twitter.com/CWO2QS6Lig

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2026

"This is a very grave incident and we strongly condemn it. It should be investigated thoroughly and the suspects must be identified. While BJP leaders are leveling political accusations against us, and we understand the sentiment, our stand remains clear," said Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh told NDTV.

"The victim was brought dead with multiple bullet injuries on his chest, which pierced his heart, and another bullet on his abdominal area. There was no opportunity to resuscitate him," a hospital doctor told PTI.

Chandranath Rath played a crucial role in Suvendu Adhikari's campaigns in the Bhabanipur constituency where the BJP leader triumphed over former chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.

Chandranath Rath had been working for Suvendu Adhikari for many years and handled the BJP leader's political coordination and other work. The PA was considered a part of Suvendu Adhikari's inner circle.

BJP leader Devdas Mondal accused the Trinamool of killing an "innocent man". "We will identify the accused and bring them to justice," he told NDTV.

Suvendu Adhikari's PA, Chandranath Rath, was hit by three out of four bullets fired at him while he was in a moving car, sources said. The suspects followed his car and opened fire when it slowed down, they said.

"This incident is symptomatic of the culture of violence prevalent all these years, cultivated by the Trinamool Congress. He has been brutally murdered. This should be thoroughly investigated. There is a deeper conspiracy behind the killing," BJP leader Nikhil Prasun told NDTV.

After his personal assistant Chandranath Rath was shot dead in 24 North Parganas, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari reached Viva City Hospital in Madhyamgram.

"We strongly condemn the brutal murder of Chandranath Rath in Madhyamgram tonight, along with the killing of three other TMC workers in incidents of post-poll violence allegedly carried out by BJP-backed miscreants over the last three days, despite the Model Code of Conduct being in force," Trinamool Congress said in a statement on X.

"We demand the strongest possible action in this matter, including a court-monitored CBI investigation so that those responsible are identified and brought to justice without delay. Violence and political killings have no place in a democracy and the guilty must be held accountable at the earliest," the party added.