Chandranath Rath
Indian political aide and former Air Force officer (died 2026)
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Chandranath Rath (c. 1985 – 6 May 2026) was an Indian political strategist, executive assistant, and former technical tradesman in the Indian Air Force.[1] He was from Chandipur, Purba Medinipur in West Bengal.[2][3] He served as the close aide and personal assistant to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari.[4] Rath was murdered in Madhyamgram, Barasat, West Bengal, on 6 May 2026, amid the severe post-election political violence that followed the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election.[5]
former Indian Air Force airman
Chandranath Rath | |
|---|---|
| Died | May 6, 2026 (aged 41) |
Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Occupations | Political assistant, former Indian Air Force airman |
| Employer | Suvendu Adhikari |
| Known for | Executive assistant to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari |
Career
Before entering the political sphere, Rath served as an officer in the Indian Air Force for two decades.[6][7] He transitioned into politics and became the executive assistant to Suvendu Adhikari in 2021, handling his office operations, strategy, and election-related work.[8] Within political circles, BJP leaders often described him as "Mr. Dependable" due to his quiet strategic acumen and tight coordination of Adhikari's campaigns.[9] His tenure coincided with Adhikari's prominent victory over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency in 2026.[10]
Death
On the night of Wednesday, 6 May 2026, at approximately 10:30 pm, Rath was returning from Kolkata to his flat in Madhyamgram, located in the North 24 Parganas district.[11] As his SUV reached Doharia on Jessore Road, about 200 metres from his residence, the vehicle was intercepted.[12]
According to police and eyewitness reports, a silver Santro car (registration WB74AX2270) overtook Rath's SUV and forced it to slow down.[13] Immediately after, a motorcycle without a registration plate approached the vehicle.[14] The assailants fired at the front windshield, before firing multiple rounds at point-blank range directly at Rath, who was seated in the front.[15] Up to 10 rounds were fired, striking him in the chest, abdomen, and head.[13]
The driver of the SUV was also critically injured and was admitted to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.[13] Rath was rushed to Diversity Nursing Home but was declared dead upon arrival.[7]
Investigation
The police launched an immediate investigation into the assassination, suspecting a highly premeditated hit. Forensics teams recovered multiple bullet casings at the scene, suggesting the potential use of a Glock pistol.[13] A large contingent of police and central forces was subsequently deployed to cordon off the area and maintain order.[16] Detectives detained three local history-sheeters for questioning, though the primary shooters remained at large.[13]
Political Reactions
The killing, occurring merely 48 hours after the conclusion of the volatile assembly elections, sparked a fierce political storm across West Bengal.[17] The BJP leadership condemned the attack as a "targeted assassination," accusing the ruling All India Trinamool Congress of orchestrating retaliatory violence following their electoral losses to Adhikari.[18] Rath's mother also publicly accused the TMC of a planned attack in response to Mamata Banerjee's poll defeat.[19]
The Trinamool Congress vehemently denied the allegations. In an official statement, the TMC condemned the brutal murder, called for a thorough CBI probe, and highlighted that their own workers were concurrently suffering from violence instigated by BJP-backed miscreants.[16]