Suvendu Adhikari urges BJP workers to stay calm after PA Chandranath Rath's murder
Synopsis
BJP's West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari called for calm after his personal assistant Chandranath Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram — a killing he described as likely politically motivated. With CCTV clues secured and Trinamool demanding a CBI probe, the case is rapidly becoming a flashpoint in Bengal's volatile political landscape.
Key Takeaways
Chandranath Rath , personal assistant to Suvendu Adhikari , was shot dead near a crossing in Madhyamgram , North 24 Parganas on 7 May 2025 .
Adhikari appealed to BJP workers to show restraint and rely on the police investigation.
State Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta informed Adhikari that investigators had secured clues from CCTV footage near the crime scene.
Rath's driver, Buddhadeb Bera , was also shot and remains in critical condition .
Trinamool Congress demanded a court-monitored CBI investigation into the killing via a social media statement.
Adhikari alleged BJP workers were also attacked and injured at Khardaha and Basirhat on Wednesday .
Suvendu Adhikari, the outgoing Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, on Thursday, 7 May appealed to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers across the state to maintain restraint and avoid retaliatory action following the murder of his long-time personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead near a crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas district. Adhikari made the appeal while speaking to media persons at the premises of Viva City Hospital, where Rath's body was brought after the attack.
Adhikari's Appeal for Peace
Standing outside the hospital, a visibly grieved Adhikari urged party supporters to trust the ongoing police investigation and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Point of View
A move that either signals genuine alarm or a calculated attempt to deflect accountability. The CCTV clue is a thin thread; whether it leads anywhere will test both the credibility of the West Bengal Police and the political temperature in the run-up to any future electoral cycle.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chandranath Rath and why was he killed?
Chandranath Rath was the long-time personal assistant of BJP leader and West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. He was shot dead near a crossing in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas on 7 May 2025. Adhikari has said there is a high possibility of political links to the murder, though no motive has been officially confirmed.
What did Suvendu Adhikari say after the murder?
Adhikari appealed to BJP workers to maintain restraint, trust the police investigation, and refrain from any retaliatory action. Speaking at Viva City Hospital in Madhyamgram, he said he had spoken with state DGP Siddh Nath Gupta, who confirmed that CCTV footage near the crime scene had yielded some clues.
What is the condition of Chandranath Rath's driver Buddhadeb Bera?
Buddhadeb Bera, the driver of Chandranath Rath's vehicle, was also shot during the attack and is reportedly in critical condition. Adhikari has promised that the BJP will take responsibility for his medical treatment.
What has Trinamool Congress demanded in response to the killing?
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) issued a social media statement demanding a court-monitored CBI investigation into the killing, calling for the guilty to be held accountable without delay. No TMC leader spoke directly to the media on the matter.
What is the broader context of political violence in West Bengal?
Adhikari alleged that vendetta politics and attacks on BJP workers have been ongoing in West Bengal for 15 years. He cited fresh incidents on Wednesday, a day before Rath's murder, where BJP workers were reportedly attacked and injured at Khardaha and Basirhat in North 24 Parganas district.
