Former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and veteran Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Banerjee was found dead at a TMC party office in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning, August 16. Police sources said his body was found hanging at the party office located close to his residence. The incident has sent shockwaves through political circles in West Bengal, with an investigation now underway into the circumstances surrounding his death.
A purported suicide note was also recovered from the party office, according to police sources. The note, reportedly written in Bengali on Banerjee's letterhead, is being examined by investigators. Reports said the note stated that no one was responsible for his death. It also reportedly contained comments in which Banerjee expressed regret over entering politics and maintained that he had never been involved in corruption. Authorities are yet to establish the authenticity and circumstances surrounding the note, and its contents are part of the ongoing investigation.
Banerjee was a prominent TMC figure and represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency for five consecutive terms. He was elected as an MLA from the constituency from 2001 and remained its representative until 2026. During his political career, he served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly and also held ministerial responsibilities, including the agriculture and school education portfolios under the Mamata Banerjee government.
The former MLA's death comes after a period of political setbacks. Banerjee contested the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election from Rampurhat on a TMC ticket but was defeated by BJP candidate Dhruva Saha by more than 24,000 votes, according to reports. Earlier this year, he had also resigned as chairman of the TMC's Birbhum district core committee, while stating that he would continue as a general member of the party.
His resignation followed concerns within the party's local organisation. Reports said Banerjee had supported former Lavpur MLA Abhijit Sinha's criticism of the functioning of the Birbhum district core committee. Following his electoral defeat and resignation from the organisational post, Banerjee was reportedly less active in political activities. The sequence of events is now being examined as investigators try to understand the circumstances preceding his death.
Police have sent Banerjee's body for post-mortem examination. The exact circumstances leading to his death have not yet been conclusively established, and investigators are examining evidence collected from the party office along with the purported suicide note. Officials are expected to determine the cause of death after the post-mortem and further investigation.
The death of the veteran TMC leader has triggered grief and concern among party workers and political leaders in West Bengal. As the investigation continues, questions surrounding the note, Banerjee's recent political developments and the events at the Rampurhat party office are likely to remain under scrutiny. Authorities have not yet announced any final conclusion regarding the motive or circumstances of his death
