West Bengal: Former Deputy Speaker Ashish Banerjee Found Dead at TMC Office

A major political development emerged from West Bengal on Sunday after former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior Trinamool Congress leader Ashish Banerjee was found dead at a TMC party office in Rampurhat, Birbhum.

According to police, his body was found at the party office. Police reached the location after the incident was reported and sent the body for post-mortem examination. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation.

A purported suicide note was also reportedly recovered from the scene.

The note has become a major focus of attention. According to media reports, Banerjee allegedly denied involvement in corruption and claimed that attempts had been made to defame and humiliate him. However, the authenticity of the document has not yet been independently established. The statements attributed to the note should therefore be treated as allegations or claims until investigators verify them.

What Has Emerged So Far About Ashish Banerjee's Case?

According to the information available so far:

• Ashish Banerjee was a former Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

• He had represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency five times.

• He represented Rampurhat continuously from 2001 to 2026.

• He was elected Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly in 2021.

• During the Mamata Banerjee government, he handled responsibilities related to departments including School Education and Agriculture.

• He lost the 2026 Assembly election to BJP's Dhruba Saha.

• After the election, he resigned as chairman of the Birbhum district TMC core committee.

• His death was reported on Sunday at a TMC office in Rampurhat.

• Police have begun investigating the purported suicide note and the circumstances surrounding his death.

What Does the Purported Suicide Note Allegedly Say About Corruption?

The purported suicide note is currently one of the most sensitive aspects of the case.

According to media reports, the handwritten letter allegedly stated that Ashish Banerjee had no connection with corruption and had not taken money in exchange for any work.

Reports have also suggested that the note referred to alleged wrongdoing within the party and reportedly denied any connection with certain works and decisions involving the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority.

The purported letter also allegedly claimed that attempts had been made to defame and humiliate him.

However, police are still investigating whether the letter was actually written by Ashish Banerjee. Therefore, its contents should not be presented as established facts until investigators authenticate the document.

Reports Also Mention Regret Over Entering Politics

Reports concerning the purported note have also mentioned that Banerjee allegedly expressed regret about entering politics.

Some reports claim that he expressed disappointment about his political career and advised members of his family to stay away from politics.

This aspect is significant given his long political career. Banerjee had been one of the prominent TMC figures in the Rampurhat and Birbhum political landscape and had represented Rampurhat for around 25 years.

Major Setback in the 2026 Assembly Election

The 2026 Assembly election marked a significant turning point in Ashish Banerjee's political career.

He lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP candidate Dhruba Saha. According to reports, the defeat came by a margin of more than 24,000 votes.

For a politician who had represented Rampurhat continuously since 2001, the electoral defeat was a major political setback. His political activity was also reportedly lower following the election.

He Had Also Stepped Away From the District TMC Organisation

Organisational changes were also reported within Birbhum's TMC unit around the 2026 election period.

According to reports, Ashish Banerjee resigned as chairman of the Birbhum district TMC core committee in 2026.

He reportedly said that he would continue as an ordinary member of the party.

There were also reports of his support for concerns raised by former Labpur MLA Abhijit Sinha regarding the functioning of the district committee.

Key Responsibilities Under the Mamata Banerjee Government

Ashish Banerjee was not only a legislator and party leader. During his long political career, he also held important responsibilities in the state government.

According to reports, he worked as a minister handling departments including School Education and Agriculture.

He also served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly from July 2021 until May 2026.

Because of his long political career and senior position, his death is being viewed as a significant development beyond the immediate political circles of Birbhum.

What Are the Key Questions in the Police Investigation?

Police are currently examining several important questions.

The first is the exact circumstances surrounding Banerjee's death. Investigators will also have to establish the authenticity of the purported note, verify its contents and examine other circumstantial evidence from the scene.

The post-mortem examination will be an important part of the investigation.

Police and other investigative agencies are expected to examine all available evidence before determining what happened.

At this stage, it would be premature to treat any political allegation, personal dispute or claim contained in the purported note as an established explanation for his death.

Political Activity Intensifies in West Bengal

Ashish Banerjee's death comes against the backdrop of a major political transition in West Bengal following the 2026 Assembly election.

The state's political landscape has undergone significant changes following the election. Against this backdrop, the sudden death of a senior politician who had spent decades as a prominent TMC leader has raised several questions.

However, it would not be appropriate at this stage to directly link his death to any political dispute or allegation. The investigation will need to establish the facts first.

What Does the Incident Mean for Local Supporters?

Ashish Banerjee had been closely associated with Rampurhat politics for many years. At the local level, he was known as an experienced politician and former public representative.

His death has reportedly caused grief among local political workers, supporters and people associated with his long public career.

The incident also raises broader questions about the pressures that can accompany a long political career, including public allegations, electoral defeats and organisational tensions. However, it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions about an individual's mental state or the reasons behind his death without evidence from the investigation.

Key Question: How Authentic Are the Claims in the Purported Note?

This remains one of the central questions in the case.

The purported note reportedly contains a denial of corruption allegations and claims that attempts were made to defame and humiliate Banerjee. However, investigators have yet to establish whether the document is authentic.

It is therefore important to distinguish between two separate issues.

The reported recovery of a purported note from the scene is one matter. The authenticity and factual accuracy of the claims contained in that document are another.

A final assessment should only be made after investigators authenticate the document and examine the evidence surrounding the death.

What Happens Next?

Attention will now focus on the police investigation, the post-mortem report and the examination of the purported suicide note.

Investigators will attempt to determine the circumstances of Ashish Banerjee's death and establish whether the document recovered from the scene is genuine.

Further legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

For now, the incident has become a major and sensitive development in West Bengal politics.

Conclusion

The death of former West Bengal Deputy Speaker and senior TMC leader Ashish Banerjee at a party office in Rampurhat has sent shockwaves through the state's political circles.

Reports surrounding the purported suicide note have brought claims of denial of corruption allegations, alleged attempts to defame him and alleged political disillusionment into focus. However, these claims have not yet been officially verified.

His defeat in the 2026 Assembly election, his subsequent resignation from an organisational post and now his death have raised questions about the final phase of his political career.

For now, the priority is to allow the investigation to establish the facts rather than draw conclusions from unverified claims.

Haldia Live will continue to track the police investigation, post-mortem findings and any official statements as they emerge.