The personal assistant (PA) to senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari was shot by unidentified attackers in India’s eastern state of West Bengal late Wednesday, police said. Adhikari is  frontrunner for the Chief Minister's post in the state where the BJP recently beat TMC in a bitterly contested elections. 

The victim, identified as Chandranath Rath, was targeted at close range in the Madhyamgram area of North 24 Parganas district, according to local sources. Rath, who works as a personal assistant to Adhikari, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a private hospital.

Police said a large contingent was deployed to the scene shortly after the attack, and an investigation is underway. Senior officers are working to determine the motive and identify those responsible.

No arrests had been reported as of Thursday morning.