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BJP Fields Mother of Murdered Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide for Nandigram Bypoll
Confirmed
In Short: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its candidate for the Nandigram Assembly by-election, fielding the mother of the slain Suvendu Adhikari aide, Hansirani Rath.
According to reports, the TMC offered to withdraw its Nandigram candidate in exchange for the Congress withdrawing from Rejinagar, but the BJP has remained firm in its decision to field Rath. The bypolls are scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9.
The seat was vacated by Adhikari after he won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 Assembly election. Rath, who has a long-standing political and personal bond with the Adhikari family, is expected to file her nomination papers in Haldia on Tuesday, with Adhikari likely to accompany her.
Rath expressed confidence about contesting the seat and said she is ready to work for the people of Nandigram. The BJP's decision to field his mother gives the Nandigram contest an additional emotional and political dimension. The Rath family has stood by Suvendu Adhikari since the early days of his political rise.
The upcoming bypoll is being watched as an early test of the BJP's position in the constituency following the Assembly election. The TMC has announced its candidates for the bypolls, with one faction fielding Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) for Nandigram and Rabiul Alam Chowdhury for Rejinagar.
Chandranath Rath, who had served as Adhikari's personal assistant, was shot dead in May, shortly after the BJP's victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The CBI has arrested Rajkumar, allegedly the main shooter in the murder case, from Muzaffarnagar.
What's confirmed
- BJP names Hansirani Rath, mother of slain Suvendu Adhikari aide Chandranath Rath, as its Nandigram candidate for the October 6 Bengal bypoll.
- The seat was vacated by Adhikari after he won both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 Assembly election.
- Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, the late personal assistant of BJP leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
- BJP’s ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ for PM Modi’s Birthday The BJP's decision to field his mother gives the Nandigram contest an additional emotional and political dimension.
What's still developing
- The White House noted in its response that the president's aides, unsurprisingly, travel with him.
- The White House's rapid response X account responded to Rupar, who in recent weeks has repeatedly tracked and commented on the movements of embattled White House aide Natalie Harp.
- Later, when Suvendu Adhikari left the TMC to join the BJP, Rath also switched to the BJP in December 2020, with her family.
- Although she was once associated with the TMC, she later became active in the BJP due to her close political ties with Suvendu Adhikari.
- In a veiled reference to Diamond Harbour Trinamul Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, Mr Adhikari alleged that 'Bhaipor Gang' had paid ₹2 crores to the contract killers to eliminate Chandranath, who was his personal assistant, four months ago at Doharia in Madhyamgram of North 24 Parganas.