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Who was Chandranath Rath, ex-air force veteran and Suvendu Adhikari’s aide shot dead in Bengal?

On Wednesday night (May 6), Chandranath Rath, a close aide of Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in North 24 Parganas. Unidentified assailants on a motorcycle allegedly intercepted Rath's vehicle near the Doharia area of Madhyamgram and opened fire from close range. His killing has intensified political tensions in the Bengal amid the volatile post-election atmosphere

Those who knew Chandranath Rath described him as a soft-spoken, disciplined person. Image courtesy: X

FP Explainers|May 07, 2026, 09:20:10 IST

Chandranath Rath, a key backroom figure in BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's political operations and an ex-air force veteran, was shot dead in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night (May 6). Not a public face in Bengal politics, yet he was still one of Adhikari's most trusted aides.

Last night, his political career ended tragically when unidentified assailants on motorcycles allegedly intercepted his vehicle near the Doharia area of Madhyamgram and opened fire from close range.

But what do we know about Chandranath Rath? Here's a quick deep dive.

Who was Chandranath Rath?

The 41-year-old Rath was from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district. Those who knew Rath described him as a soft-spoken, disciplined person.

Despite being a close associate of Adhikari for years, Rath remained largely away from the public spotlight.

He completed his studies at Rahara Ramakrishna Mission. After that, he spent nearly two decades in the Indian Air Force, and then started his political organisational work.

NDTV reported, citing people close to the family, that Rath once also considered a spiritual life. During his student years, he was strongly influenced by the ideals of the Ramakrishna Mission.

He worked in the corporate sector for a brief period after taking voluntary retirement. He then started moving into political coordination and administrative responsibilities.

Like Adhikari's, Rath's family was also associated with the TMC party.

His mother, Hasi Rath, served on a local panchayat body in Purba Medinipur under TMC rule before joining the BJP with Adhikari in 2020. The connection between the Rath family and Adhikari went back more than two decades.

Around 2019, he joined Adhikari's official team while the BJP leader was still serving as a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government.

He initially handled duties related to Adhikari’s ministerial office and later continued in a similar role after Adhikari joined the BJP camp.

According to a BJP insider, Rath was described as someone who enjoyed Adhikari's complete confidence. Adhikari entrusted Rath with sensitive responsibilities related to campaign management and political coordination.

During BJP's Bhabanipur campaign, Rath remained a key member of the core team of several high-voltage political battles.

There was speculation that Rath would be given a more significant administrative role if Adhikari assumed a bigger role in government after the assembly elections.

However, all came to a screeching halt after he was allegedly murdered last night.

Rath's killing has intensified major political tensions in Bengal amid the volatile post-election atmosphere.

How the killing unfolded

Officials probing the matter suspect that Rath's murder was carefully planned. India Today reported, citing police sources, that 10 rounds were fired during the attack. Investigators suspect the number could be higher.

The attackers had allegedly conducted a "recce of the area" before shooting Rath, and they also figured out an escape route. The pattern of the crime indicates extensive planning, police sources say.

The preliminary probe suggests that Rath's car was followed by two vehicles, a four-wheeler and a motorcycle. The four-wheeler then overtook Adhikari's aide's car and forced it to slow down.

Shortly after that, motorcycle-borne attackers fired at Rath from close range, according to sources. Rath was hit by at least 10 bullets, which struck his chest, abdomen, and head.

Eyewitnesses told police the motorcycle used during the attack did not have a registration plate, raising suspicions of a pre-planned murder.

The news outlet quoted a source as describing the moment of the attack: "Someone followed his car, and when it slowed down, they opened fire."

Sources said investigators recovered spent bullet casings from the scene and suspect the attackers may have used a compact firearm, possibly an Austrian-made Glock pistol. However, officials warned that only after forensic examination they may be able to confirm the exact weapon used in the attack.

“The car’s number plate had been tampered with. We have seized the vehicle and recovered fired cartridges and live rounds. Multiple CCTV footage are being examined,” said West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta.

Officials are reviewing CCTV footage from Jessore Road and questioning local witnesses as part of the investigation.

What Suvendu Adhikari said

"A cold-blooded and pre-planned murder," said the BJP leader on the killing of his close aide. He also alleged that the killers had carried out "recce for two to three days".

While speaking to the reporters outside the hospital, Adhikari added, "The incident is heart-wrenching; we condemn the incident. The way the attack was executed clearly suggests that the assailants had done a recce beforehand."

He informed that the Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar has spoken to Rath's family.

Adhikari described this incident as the result of what he calls "15 years of Maha-Jungle Raj" and the BJP, which registered a historic win in the poll, will begin "cleansing work of the goons here."

With inputs from agencies