Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and veteran TMC leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office in Rampurhat. Police are investigating the circumstances and examining a purported note recovered from the premises.
Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and veteran Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a local TMC office in Birbhum district on Sunday morning, according to police sources.
Banerjee was reportedly found hanging inside the party office near his residence in the Hattala Para area of Rampurhat. Police recovered a purported note from the premises and sent his body for a post-mortem examination.
The cause and circumstances of his death have not yet been officially established. Investigators are examining the purported note alongside forensic evidence and other information collected from the scene.
What is the police investigating?
Police are considering all relevant circumstances, including the possibility of suicide. However, it would be premature to determine the cause of death before the post-mortem and forensic examinations are completed.
The investigation is expected to consider several questions:
- Whether the purported note was written by Banerjee.
- Whether its contents have any direct connection with his death.
- When and under what circumstances he entered the party office.
- Whether physical or digital evidence provides a clearer timeline.
- Who had been in contact with him in the period before his death.
The contents of the purported note have not been officially released. Speculation about its message or motive should therefore be avoided until investigators authenticate it and provide further information.
A five-term legislator from Rampurhat
Banerjee was among the Trinamool Congress’s most experienced leaders in Birbhum. He represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency for five consecutive terms between 2001 and 2026.
During his political career, he served as deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly and held ministerial responsibilities, including portfolios related to agriculture and school education, in the Mamata Banerjee government.
Banerjee was also a prominent figure in the TMC’s Birbhum organisation during Anubrata Mondal’s tenure as district president. His role extended beyond legislative representation, as he remained an important link between the party organisation, local administration and voters in Rampurhat.
Defeated by Dhruba Saha in the 2026 election
Banerjee contested the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election from Rampurhat on a TMC ticket but lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dhruba Saha by 24,233 votes.
According to the Election Commission of India’s official results, Saha secured 111,920 votes, while Banerjee received 87,687.
The result was politically significant because Banerjee had held the constituency continuously since 2001. Party sources said he had been less visible in political activities following the defeat, although the TMC has not issued an official statement confirming that assessment.
No evidence has emerged linking his electoral defeat or subsequent political activity to his death.
The wider political context
Banerjee’s death comes after a major change in West Bengal’s political landscape. The TMC’s defeat in the 2026 Assembly election ended its approximately 15-year tenure in power and created new organisational challenges for the party.
His loss in Rampurhat formed part of that broader electoral shift. The defeat of several established leaders raised questions about the TMC’s district-level leadership, internal reorganisation and future political strategy.
That context may help explain Banerjee’s recent political position, but it does not establish a cause for his death. Any attempt to connect the political transition or election result directly to his death would be speculative without supporting evidence.
What his death could mean for the TMC in Birbhum
Banerjee’s death leaves the TMC without one of its most experienced leaders in Rampurhat. His long familiarity with the constituency and its political networks gave him influence among local workers, residents and administrative figures.
The party, already facing pressure to reorganise after its election defeat, may now have to identify new local leadership and redistribute organisational responsibilities in Rampurhat.
The extent of the political impact will become clearer only after the TMC issues a detailed response and sets out its plans for the constituency.
Post-mortem report will be critical
The post-mortem findings, forensic evidence and authentication of the purported note are likely to determine the direction of the investigation.
Even if the note is confirmed to be genuine, investigators will need to assess its contents alongside other evidence. A note alone may not provide a complete account of the circumstances surrounding a person’s death.
Until the authorities release verified findings, the most important established facts are that Banerjee was found dead at the party office, a purported note was recovered and the investigation remains under way.
The original report was published by Hams Live News. Banerjee’s 2026 election result can be independently verified through the Election Commission of India.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, contact local emergency services, a qualified mental health professional or India’s Tele-MANAS helpline on 14416.
