An aide to a top leader from India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been shot dead. Chandranath Rath was the personal assistant to Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari is expected to become the new chief minister of West Bengal state. The killing occurred amidst violence that erupted after elections. Rath was on his way home on Wednesday night when the shooting took place. Police are investigating the incident. No arrests have been made yet.
Rath is one of at least three people killed in West Bengal since Monday. Election results were announced on Monday. Police reported arresting over 400 people. These arrests are linked to incidents of violence and intimidation. Violence is a recurring problem in West Bengal after elections. Clashes between rival party workers are common. The BJP achieved a historic victory on Monday. It was the first time the BJP won in this state. This ended the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Tensions have been high for weeks in West Bengal. The elections took place alongside a controversial voter roll cleanup. Millions of people were removed from these lists. Banerjee claimed the exercise removed non-BJP voters. She believes this led to her defeat. The BJP and India's Election Commission deny these claims. Rath's murder has increased tensions. Fears of more violence are growing. Adhikari described the death as "heartwrenching". He called it a "cold-blooded murder".
West Bengal police found a car used in the crime. Its license plate number was incorrect. "We also found live rounds and fired cartridges from the spot," stated West Bengal police chief Siddh Nath Gupta. A witness told media a person on a motorcycle fired the shot. Police have not confirmed this detail. The TMC condemned the killing. "Violence and political killings have no place in a democracy," the party said. They called for immediate accountability for the guilty. The TMC demanded a court-monitored investigation. Both parties accuse each other of post-poll violence. The BJP claims two workers died. The TMC says three of their workers were killed. Police have not confirmed the party affiliations of victims other than Rath.
Adhikari and other BJP leaders criticized Mamata Banerjee's government. They claim law and order declined under her rule. BJP's Sukanta Majumdar, a federal minister, stated, "As soon as our chief minister takes the oath and our government assumes power, everything will be set right though it may take a little time." The new chief minister is expected to be sworn in on Saturday. Suvendu Adhikari is the leading candidate. He is a former TMC leader who joined the BJP. The BJP won a landslide victory, securing 207 out of 294 seats. Adhikari also defeated Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency. Victory rallies have been held across the state. Reports of arson and vandalism have emerged from several districts. This includes Murshidabad, Birbhum, Kolkata, and Howrah. The TMC accuses BJP workers of vandalizing party offices. The BJP denies these accusations. The BJP also faced accusations of demolishing meat shops in Kolkata.
The TMC called this intimidation. They warned of a dangerous precedent for law and order. The BJP stated they do not support violence. A senior police officer told PTI that a meeting to celebrate the BJP's victory took place. He reported no untoward incidents. On Wednesday, a senior police officer told the BBC. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar directed monitoring of law and order. Immediate action was ordered for violence or vandalism. Recurring election violence in West Bengal stems from its "party society." This term describes how party affiliation affects daily life. Zaad Mahmood, a political science professor, explained this to the BBC. He noted that in recent years, political identity has caused more conflict than caste or religion. Party loyalty is tied to survival in many rural areas. This makes any change in power feel existential. While deaths are lower this election cycle, violence creates a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation. This impacts people before, during, and after the polls.