Former West Bengal Deputy Speaker Ashis Banerjee Found Dead at TMC Office, Suicide Note Recovered

Kolkata: Former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker and veteran Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ashis Banerjee was found dead at a TMC party office in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning, police sources said.

Banerjee’s body was found hanging at the party office located near his residence in Hattala Para. A purported suicide note was also recovered from the premises. Police are examining the contents of the note as part of their investigation, while the body has been sent for post-mortem examination.

Ashis Banerjee was a prominent TMC leader and represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency continuously from 2001 to 2026. He served in the West Bengal government in several ministerial positions, including Agriculture and School Education, and later served as Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly.

In the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, Banerjee contested from Rampurhat on a TMC ticket but was defeated by BJP candidate Dhruba Saha by more than 24,000 votes. Following the electoral defeat, he had reportedly become less active in politics.

The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation. Police are examining the recovered note and other evidence to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.