Source telegraph India
BIRBHUM, WEST BENGAL — In a shocking development, former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ashis Banerjee was found hanging inside a party office in Rampurhat, Birbhum, on Sunday morning, as reported by Livemint.
The 75-year-old leader, who represented the Rampurhat constituency for a quarter of a century according to TOI Bharat, was discovered dead in a TMC office situated adjacent to his Hattala Para residence. According to Birbhum Superintendent of Police Vidit Raj Bhundesh, speaking to the Hindustan Times, authorities had to break down the door, which was locked from the inside, to recover the body.
A Note of Regret and Denial of Corruption
Police recovered a purported suicide note from the premises, in which Banerjee stated, “No one is responsible for my death,” and expressed deep regret over his decision to enter politics. In the letter, he advised his family to stay away from the political sphere, as noted by the Times of India.
The note heavily emphasized his integrity. Banerjee claimed he was never involved in corruption or took money in exchange for favors, as detailed by Business Today. Addressing ongoing local controversies, he explicitly distanced himself from the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA), stating he played no role in tender decisions, cheque issuances, or plan approvals.
Banerjee wrote that while he could not always accept the “wrongdoings” within the party, he had been unable to protest against them. He also alleged that continuous attempts had been made to “malign and humiliate” him.
A Veteran’s Stalled Career
Ashis Banerjee had been a stalwart of the TMC in Birbhum, holding the Rampurhat seat for five consecutive terms from 2001 to 2026. During his tenure, he served as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and held several ministerial portfolios, including Agriculture and School Education, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
However, his political trajectory took a downturn following the 2026 Assembly elections, where he lost his stronghold to the BJP’s Dhruba Saha. Following the defeat, Banerjee stepped down as the chairman of the TMC’s Birbhum district core committee in June, according to the Times of India, and reportedly became less active in day-to-day party affairs.
The body has been sent to Rampurhat Medical College for a post-mortem examination, and police are continuing their investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
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