West Bengal post-poll violence 2025: Why the winning side is under attack
Synopsis
For the first time in Bengal's political history, the winning party — the BJP — is the primary target of post-poll violence. The brutal killing of Chandranath Rath, Personal Secretary to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, has sharpened a crisis that cuts against decades of political convention in a state where the vanquished, not the victors, have historically faced reprisals.
Key Takeaways
BJP , the winning side in Bengal's recent polls, is facing unprecedented post-poll violence — a first in the state's political history.
Chandranath Rath , Personal Secretary to Suvendu Adhikari , was murdered in a high-profile incident on late Wednesday .
Suvendu Adhikari has vowed to reopen all files related to reported poll violence to ensure justice for victims.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Riju Dutta claimed BJP leaders treated him well after the May 4 verdict, while his own party members are targeting him.
Bengal's political violence has historically been underpinned by cadre-based territorial control, criminal intermediaries, and politicised local administration across all ruling parties.
For the first time in West Bengal's modern political history, it is the winning side — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — that is largely bearing the brunt of post-poll violence, following its comprehensive victory in the recent elections. The reversal marks a sharp departure from decades of political tradition in the state, where aggression has almost always been directed at the vanquished.
Bengal's Long History of Political Violence
Across the Congress, Left Front, and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) eras, West Bengal's political violence showed continuity more than rupture — with coercion aimed consistently at the losing side. The state's political lexicon itself reflects this culture. Phrases like
Point of View
The killing of Chandranath Rath is not an isolated incident; it is a data point in a decades-long pattern of criminalised politics that no ruling party in Bengal has cleanly broken from. The real question is whether Suvendu Adhikari's pledge to reopen violence files will translate into accountability or simply become the next chapter in the same cycle.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the post-poll violence situation in West Bengal in 2025?
Following the BJP's comprehensive victory in the recent West Bengal elections, the winning party's members have been targeted in what analysts are calling an unprecedented reversal of the state's political violence pattern. The killing of Chandranath Rath, Personal Secretary to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, is among the most high-profile incidents.
Who was Chandranath Rath and why does his killing matter?
Chandranath Rath was the Personal Secretary to senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and was murdered late Wednesday in what BJP leaders have described as targeted political violence. His killing has intensified national attention on post-poll violence in West Bengal.
What is 'Dum Dum Dawai' in the context of Bengal politics?
'Dum Dum Dawai' is a political euphemism originating from West Bengal's 1960s food crisis agitation, used to imply 'direct action' or harsh punishment against those who questioned or resisted the ruling party. It reflects the broader culture of coded political language used to describe coercion in the state.
How does the current violence differ from Bengal's historical pattern?
Historically, across Congress, Left Front, and Trinamool Congress eras, post-poll violence in Bengal targeted the losing side. The current situation — where the winning BJP is largely facing attacks — is described as unprecedented in the state's modern political history.
What has Suvendu Adhikari said about the violence?
Suvendu Adhikari, the senior BJP leader who defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, has stated that the new administration intends to reopen all files related to reported poll violence to ensure justice for victims.
