Veteran TMC Leader Ashis Banerjee Found Dead in Rampurhat
Rampurhat, August 16, 2026: Former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker Ashis Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Rampurhat in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Sunday morning, triggering shock across the state's political circles.
Police sources said the 74-year-old veteran politician was found hanging at the party office located near his residence. A purported suicide note was also recovered from the premises. His body was subsequently sent for a post-mortem examination.
The precise circumstances of Banerjee's death have not yet been established. Police are examining the recovered note and investigating the sequence of events surrounding his death.
Police Examine Purported Note
The discovery of a purported note has become an important part of the investigation. Reports indicate that its contents are being examined by investigators as they seek to determine what happened before Banerjee's death.
While initial reports have disclosed some alleged contents of the note, those claims should be treated cautiously until investigators authenticate the document and establish the circumstances in which it was written.
The post-mortem findings and police investigation will therefore be critical to establishing the cause and circumstances of death.
Who Was Ashis Banerjee?
Banerjee was one of the Trinamool Congress's long-serving political figures in Birbhum. He represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency continuously from 2001 until 2026, giving him a legislative career spanning 25 years.
During his political career, he served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and also held ministerial responsibilities in the Mamata Banerjee government, including the agriculture portfolio.
His long association with Rampurhat made him an established figure in the constituency and within the TMC's organisation in Birbhum.
Death Sends Shockwaves Through Bengal Politics
The death of a politician with such a long record in the Assembly is significant for both the TMC and West Bengal's wider political landscape.
Banerjee had spent decades in public life and held legislative and ministerial responsibilities. His death at a party office also means that investigators will face considerable public attention as they work to establish exactly what happened.
At this stage, however, speculation about motives or responsibility would be premature. The existence of a purported note does not by itself establish every circumstance surrounding a death, making verification, forensic examination and the post-mortem findings important.
Focus Now on Investigation and Post-Mortem Findings
Banerjee's death marks a sudden end to the career of a politician closely associated with Rampurhat for more than two decades.
For investigators, the immediate task will be to authenticate and examine the recovered material, review the circumstances at the party office and consider the medical findings from the post-mortem examination.
Until those processes are completed, the exact circumstances surrounding Ashis Banerjee's death remain under investigation.
