West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Samik Bhattacharya on Thursday, 7 May strongly condemned the killing of Chandranath Rath, Personal Assistant (PA) to outgoing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, alleging the murder was designed to send a "political message" ahead of the new government formation in the state.

What Happened

Late on Wednesday night, Chandranath Rath was shot dead while returning home from a party programme in the Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas district. According to reports, Rath sustained multiple bullet injuries to his head, chest, and abdomen. He was rushed to Viva City Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Another individual, identified as Buddhadeb Bera, who was travelling in the same vehicle during the attack, also sustained multiple gunshot injuries. Bera is currently undergoing treatment at Viva City Hospital and remains in critical condition, according to hospital sources.

What BJP Leaders Said

Addressing the media, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya described the incident as anything but routine. "This is not a simple incident... From what has come out so far in the video footage, and what the police are saying and what is in the newspaper headlines, the vehicle was parked, first the windshield was broken with a hole made from a rod... this is not a simple case," he said.

Bhattacharya further linked the timing of the attack to major upcoming political events in the state. "Two days later, the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister, and all other leaders are coming to the state. Several Chief Ministers are also arriving in the state for such a big celebration. Before that event, this incident happened. Someone may be trying to send a political message or target the BJP. The politically aware people of Bengal will definitely understand this," he alleged.

BJP MP Jyotirmay Singh Mahato alleged that the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) was unable to accept electoral defeat. "Trinamool Congress has become frustrated and is unable to accept this defeat. The goons associated with them are also not able to tolerate it. Before the results, someone had said that they would show what would happen after May 4. He was a PA of Suvendu Adhikari and was not even a politician. The aim of such attacks is to intimidate and target individuals," Mahato alleged.

BJP MP Rahul Sinha also trained his guns on the TMC, alleging, "This incident is believed by the people of Bengal to be linked with the Trinamool Congress... A change of government is happening, and a new government is being formed. At that time, they carried out such actions."

Investigation Underway

Bhattacharya confirmed that a police probe into the killing is currently underway. "The investigation is underway," he said, adding that "the public has given its decision against violence, against fear." No arrests have been reported as of the time of filing this report, and the TMC is yet to formally respond to the BJP's allegations.

Political Context

The killing comes at a particularly charged moment in West Bengal's political calendar. A new state government is in the process of being formed following recent elections, and senior central leaders — including the Prime Minister and Home Minister — are reportedly scheduled to visit the state within days. This is not the first time post-poll violence has cast a shadow over Bengal's political transition; the state has a documented history of election-linked clashes. Critics argue that the pattern of targeting political workers and associates — rather than elected leaders directly — is a deliberate intimidation strategy. The BJP has not provided independent evidence linking TMC to the attack, and all allegations remain unverified pending the police investigation.