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BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday issued his first statement after Chandranath Rath, his P.A., died the night before in the brutal attack, calling it a “heart-wrenching” and “pre-planned cold-blooded murder.”

Adhikari claimed that the attackers made a reconnaissance of the area for 2-3 days and carried out the attack on the night of May 6 in Madhyamgram. He explained to reporters, “This was a planned murder, and so was the DGP.”

He had discussed the matter with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President Nitin Gadkari, said the former minister. He appealed to party workers not to take law into their own hands and maintain peace, assuring full support to Rath’s family.

BJP's good performance in 2026 Assembly polls have brought a knife to his throat as the killing of the former IAF officer adds to worries in West Bengal for post-poll violence. In addition to worries on West Bengal for possible post-poll violence, the killing of the ex-IAF veteran has put the BJP "under the knife" in the state, following its powerful performance in the assembly elections held in 2021. A police investigation is ongoing, with evidence of fake number plates found on location, and there is evidence of targeted firing. The shooting has got the country's political elite outraged on a statewide basis.