Shocked over murder of Suvendu aide, hope new BJP govt will focus on law and order: Paes

Tennis icon and BJP leader Leander Paes on Thursday expressed shock over the killing of a close aide of Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengals Madhyamgram, contending that acts of hooliganism were taking place in the state after the assembly polls.

Tennis icon and BJP leader Leander Paes on Thursday expressed shock over the killing of a close aide of Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal's Madhyamgram, contending that ''acts of hooliganism'' were taking place in the state after the assembly polls. West Bengal's post-poll tension took a bloody turn on Wednesday night after Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant of BJP leader Adhikari, was shot dead in his car in North 24 Parganas, triggering outrage, protests and fresh allegations of political violence. ''I feel shocked and sad at what happened yesterday. Unfortnately, things taking place in West Bengal over the past 15 years'' are not desirable, Paes told reporters. The TMC was in power in the state since 2011, before the BJP secured a landslide victory in the 2026 assembly polls. Paes, however, expressed confidence that the new BJP government in West Bengal will focus on the law and order situation. ''Hooliganism is taking place in our state in the post-election phase,'' due to the ''slide'' in governance, law and order, safety and security situation, he said. ''Having been born in Kolkata, going to school here, walking to the South Club for a game of tennis; this is our state, the city we all know. There is no place for dirty politicking,'' Paes, who joined the BJP before the assembly polls, said.