Chandranath Rath, personal aide to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas in West Bengal late on Wednesday, police said. Rath was a crucial figure in the management of the Adhikari elections in Nandigram and Bhabanipur, both seats the leader won in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Rath’s killing comes amid ongoing tensions in West Bengal in the wake of Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to resign as chief minister and her challenge to take the matter to the streets. On Monday, May 4, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a historic victory in the Assembly elections, winning 207 of the 294 seats. Follow live updates of West Bengal news
Chandranath Rath was no ordinary assistant. He reportedly once served in the Indian Air Force before becoming one of Suvendu Adhikari’s most trusted political associates.
IAF to PA: Who was Chandranath Rath?
Chandranath Rath, 41, hails from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, the district that was the base of Suvendu Adhikari’s rise in Bengali politics, news agency PTI reported, citing party sources.
Despite being part of Adhikari’s close-knit inner circle for years, Rath has largely kept a low profile. He reportedly spoke softly and kept a low profile.
Rath completed his studies at the Rahara Ramakrishna Mission and served in the Indian Air Force for nearly 20 years.
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During his time at the Ramakrishna Mission, he was reported to have been deeply moved by the spirit of the organization and even considered it a spiritual life one day, the report said, citing people close to the Rath family.
Rath reportedly voluntarily retired from the Air Force, and later moved into the corporate sector for a brief period. After that, it gradually began to shift to political organizational work, such as coordination and administrative responsibilities.
Rath’s entry into the political circle was not random. His family had a political history with the Trinamool Congress before switching allegiance to the BJP.
His mother, Hasi Rath, had held a position in a local panchayat in Purba Medinipur during the TMC regime. She moved to the BJP along with Suvendu Adhikari in 2020.
The Rath family and Adhikari share a relationship dating back more than two decades, right from the early years of TMC’s expansion in Purba Medinipur, PTI reported, citing family acquaintances.
Chandranath Rath officially joined Adhikari’s team around 2019, when the current BJP leader was serving as a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government.
Rath took up the work related to Adhikari’s ministerial office and later continued in a similar role after the leader’s move to the BJP.
Over the years, Chandranath Rath has consolidated his role as a key person in Adhikari’s backroom and his political work. He coordinated several matters, from organizational work to logistical matters, with party workers.
BJP insiders reportedly described Rath as someone who had Adhikari’s complete trust and was often part of sensitive operations related to campaign management and political coordination.
Within the BJP organisation, there are reportedly rumors that if Adhikari takes on a bigger role in the West Bengal government after the Assembly elections, Rath may be given greater administrative responsibility.
“Mr. Dependable, Dear Friend”
Political leaders condemned the killing of Chandranath Rath, describing him as a dear friend, a non-political and reliable person.
BJP leader Sriruba Mitra Chaudhary said that over the past five years in Vidhan Sabha, from tea biscuits to poster work, Chandra (Chandranath’s pet name) has been doing it all.
“Chandranath Rath was a dear friend and a completely apolitical person. He was a good child from a good family. The culprits responsible for his murder will not be spared,” Chaudhary added.
BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said that Rath was handling all the work of Suvendu Adhikari in the state assembly, calling him a “master who can be relied upon”.
She also said that Rath was completely apolitical.
Suvendu Adhikari spoke to reporters last night after Rath’s killing and said no conclusion has been drawn at the moment, though he said it was a fact that the TMC had used terrorism all these years. “The Director General of Police has assured us that a proper investigation is underway. He said that this is a planned murder committed in cold blood. A car was used in the crime. I request our people not to take the law into their own hands and trust the administration. Justice will be done,” Adhikari said. “We believe the incident may or may not have anything to do with politics.”
The police learned that the murder was planned over the past three or four days, he said, adding that a reconnaissance had been conducted.
