Former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and veteran Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a TMC party office in Rampurhat, Birbhum, on Sunday morning, August 16, police said. He was 74.
Banerjee’s body was found hanging inside the party office located near his residence in Hattala Para. Police reached the spot and sent the body to Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination. The exact circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.
A purported handwritten note was also recovered from the office. Police are examining the contents and authenticity of the note as part of the investigation. Reports quoting the note said Banerjee indicated that nobody should be held responsible for his death and expressed regret over entering politics. Authorities have not yet established the circumstances that led to his death.
Asish Banerjee was a prominent TMC leader from Birbhum and represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency for five consecutive terms from 2001 until 2026. He served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly and also held ministerial responsibilities, including school education and agriculture, in the Mamata Banerjee government.
Banerjee contested the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election from Rampurhat on a TMC ticket but lost to BJP candidate Dhruva Saha by more than 24,000 votes. Following the electoral defeat, he stepped down as chairman of the TMC’s Birbhum district core committee in June and was reportedly less active in party politics.
News of his death triggered a gathering of TMC workers and supporters at the party office and hospital. Senior party leaders also visited the hospital after the incident. Police have begun a detailed investigation, while the post-mortem report is expected to provide further information about the cause and circumstances of Banerjee’s death.
