BJP heavyweight leader Suvendu Adhikari, Chandranath Rath, was shot dead by unidentified men in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas late on Wednesday night, police said.
A senior Barasat district police officer said: “Chandranath Rath was shot dead. He was taken to hospital where he was declared brought dead. The investigation is still ongoing.”
According to officials, another person who was with Rath inside the car was also injured and was taken to the hospital.
This development comes just two days after the Bharatiya Janata Party swept the West Bengal assembly elections, winning 207 seats. The TMC has been reduced to 80 seats in the Legislative Council.
Moreover, Adhikari also defeated TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur Assembly seat, which was the home turf of the outgoing chief minister.
Senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata on May 9.
Senior police officials and BJP leaders, including Adhikari, rushed to the spot
Rath played a key role in running the Adhikari elections in both Nandigram and Babanipur. Adhikari won both seats.
“Unidentified persons on a motorcycle were following the car, as far as we know. His car was stopped near Doharia in Madhyamgram and the miscreants opened fire indiscriminately while Rath was still in the car,” BJP leader Kustave Bagchi told the media.
