Chandranath Rath, 41, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, on Wednesday night. The attackers intercepted his vehicle near Madhyamgram’s Doharia area and opened fire at close range, according to initial reports from the scene.

Rath, originally from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, had transitioned from a nearly two-decade career in the Indian Air Force to political coordination after taking voluntary retirement. He formally joined Adhikari’s official team around 2019 and handled organisational, logistical and communication responsibilities for the BJP leader during his ministerial tenure and after his shift from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP in 2020.

Family and party sources said Rath maintained a low public profile despite his long-standing role in Adhikari’s inner circle and had earlier been associated with the Trinamool Congress through his family, which had local panchayat links in Purba Medinipur. Colleagues described him as a trusted backroom figure involved in campaign management and sensitive political assignments, including during the BJP’s Bhabanipur election campaign.

The killing has triggered sharp political reactions across West Bengal and heightened tensions in the aftermath of the assembly election results. Police have launched an investigation into the attack, and security measures in the region are being reviewed as authorities pursue leads on the assailants.