‘High possibility of political links,’ says Suvendu Adhikari after aide’s murder in West Bengal; BJP alleges vendetta
The Statesman | 8 May 2026
A day after his long-time personal assistant Chandranath Rath was shot dead in North 24 Parganas, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday appealed to party workers across West Bengal to remain calm and not resort to retaliation.
Speaking outside a private hospital in Madhyamgram, where Rath’s body was taken after the attack, the outgoing Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly said emotions were running high but urged BJP supporters to trust the police investigation and maintain peace.
The killing has triggered a fresh political flashpoint in Bengal, with BJP leaders alleging a larger conspiracy and linking the incident to the state’s violent political climate. The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, demanded a court-monitored CBI probe into the murder.
“There is a high possibility of political links with this murder. I do not want to make any comment on this issue further right at this moment,” Adhikari said.
He said he had spoken to West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta, who informed him that investigators had gathered leads from CCTV footage installed near the spot where Rath was shot.
“Let’s rely on the police investigation. But it is my earnest appeal to our party workers to show restraint at this hour of grief and refrain from taking the law into our hands. Please maintain peace,” Adhikari added.
Rath was shot near a crossing close to the hospital area in Madhyamgram. The driver of his vehicle, Buddhadeb Bera, was also injured in the firing and remains in critical condition.
Adhikari said the BJP would take responsibility for Rath’s family and also ensure treatment for the injured driver.
Several BJP leaders reacted strongly to the incident, with many alleging that the murder was politically motivated.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya questioned whether the attack was meant to send a “political message”.
“This is no ordinary murder,” Bhattacharya said, claiming the assailants had used a vehicle with altered chassis numbers before opening fire.
“The Trinamool Congress have reduced the entire state to this very condition. There is absolutely no rule of law left in West Bengal,” he alleged.
Senior BJP leader Arjun Singh described the incident as a “planned murder” carried out by a “sharpshooter”. He further claimed that the matter needed a detailed investigation to determine if it was linked to post-poll violence.
BJP MP Khagen Murmu also alleged that the conspiracy appeared “pre-planned” and said those responsible would be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Trinamool Congress of encouraging “institutionalised political violence” in the state.
He also claimed that another BJP worker, Rohit Roy, had been shot and was in critical condition.
While no senior Trinamool Congress leader addressed the media directly on the incident, the ruling party issued a statement on social media demanding a court-monitored CBI investigation.
“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,” the statement said.
“Violence and political killings have no place in a democracy and the guilty must be held accountable at the earliest,” it added.
The murder has once again brought political violence in Bengal into sharp focus, especially amid heightened tensions following the recently concluded Assembly elections.