The personal assistant to a senior leader of India's ruling party was shot dead amid violence that broke out after the government achieved an unprecedented victory in West Bengal state elections.
Foreign news agencies reported on 7 May 2026 that a close aide to a senior leader from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party was shot dead amid violence erupting following a key election in West Bengal.
The deceased, Chandranath Rath, was the personal assistant to Suvendu Adhikari, who is seen as a frontrunner to become the new chief minister of West Bengal after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the election.
Mr. Rath was killed Wednesday night while returning home. Police are currently investigating the case but have yet to arrest any suspects.
Rath was one of at least three people killed in West Bengal since the election results were announced on Monday. Prior to Rath's death, police said they had arrested more than 400 individuals related to the violence and threats.
Violence is common in West Bengal after elections, typically involving clashes between supporters of rival political parties.
On Monday, the BJP made history by winning West Bengal for the first time, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) under Mamata Banerjee.
Tensions in West Bengal had been rising for weeks, as the election took place amid disputes over the revision of voter lists, which resulted in millions being removed from the rolls.
Banerjee accused the process of deliberately removing thousands of non-BJP supporters from the voter lists to pave the way for her defeat. However, the BJP and the Election Commission of India have consistently denied these allegations.
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Source:bbc