Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the death of TMC leader and former state Deputy Speaker Asish Banerjee. The five-time TMC MLA from the Rampurhat Assembly constituency was found hanging inside a party office in Birbhum district on Sunday.
His death triggered a political controversy, with several TMC leaders, including party MP Abhishek Banerjee, accusing the BJP and sections of the media of running smear campaigns against Asish Banerjee and other leaders from the Mamata Banerjee-led faction.
Mamata Banerjee echoed these allegations, saying the veteran TMC leader had been targeted with false corruption accusations and subjected to prolonged pressure despite being a grassroots politician who maintained a strong connection with people in his constituency and district.
She said the circumstances surrounding his final days were particularly painful, highlighting the mental and emotional strain he appeared to have experienced. Mamata noted that Asish Banerjee had served five terms as MLA, was a former Deputy Speaker and Chairman, and had worked extensively for the development of Rampurhat.
She added that the harassment and psychological pressure he faced despite his long record of public service should prompt reflection on the human cost of prolonged political hostility, in an indirect criticism of the BJP.
Mamata also described Asish as a person who devoted his life to teaching and public service, adding that his absence would always be felt.
A day before his death, Asish Banerjee had attended an Independence Day programme at the same party office where he was later found dead. Police recovered a suicide note from the location.
In the note, written in Bengali, Banerjee said he was innocent of allegations of wrongdoing connected to the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA), where he had previously served as chairman.
He denied any involvement in alleged irregularities relating to the agency’s tender decisions, cheque issuance, plan approvals and no-objection certificates. He also alleged that efforts had been made to damage his reputation.
Banerjee further wrote that entering politics had been a mistake.
ASISH BANERJEE’S POLITICAL CAREER
Banerjee began his electoral career in 2001 when he won the Rampurhat Assembly seat, which was then regarded as a stronghold of the Left. He defeated Forward Bloc candidate Mahammad Hannan, who was part of the Left Front alliance.
He subsequently consolidated his position in the constituency and won four more consecutive elections.
His winning streak ended in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, when BJP candidate Dhruba Saha defeated him by nearly 24,000 votes. Following his electoral defeat, Banerjee was reportedly less visible in party activities.
ABHISHEK BANERJEE ATTACKS BJP AND MEDIA
Following Asish Banerjee’s death, Diamond Harbour MP and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said his death came after he had endured sustained smear campaigns following the party’s significant electoral setback.
He said the contents of Asish’s final note raised serious questions about the campaign he claimed to have faced. Abhishek argued that the BJP and sections of the media should consider the consequences of a political environment in which allegations are amplified, reputations are placed on trial and people are judged publicly before facts are established.
He also stressed that political conflicts should never come at the cost of a person’s life.
Meanwhile, TMC MLA and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also criticised the BJP and the Trinamool faction led by Bengal Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee.
In several Facebook posts, Ghosh alleged that Asish had become a victim of what he described as a growing culture of intimidation in Bengal under BJP rule.
He further alleged that the current Leader of the Opposition was acting as a safeguard for the government led by Suvendu Adhikari following the incident.
