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A very shocking news came out from the politics of West Bengal on Sunday morning. The body of Dr. Ashish Banerjee, former deputy speaker of the state assembly, former cabinet minister and powerful Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader of Birbhum district, was found hanging under suspicious circumstances in the party office in Rampurhat. This party office is adjacent to his personal residence in Hattalapara area, Ward No. 5 of Rampurhat Municipality. In the morning, when local workers and family members saw his body hanging inside the office, there was panic in the entire area. As soon as information about the incident was received, the team of Birbhum District Police and Rampurhat police station immediately reached the spot. Police sealed the spot and took the body into their custody and sent it to Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. The sudden demise of the 75-year-old senior leader, who had hoisted the tricolor flag at the Independence Day celebrations a day earlier on August 15, has spread deep mourning and silence in the political circles of entire West Bengal. Pain expressed in suicide note: 'No one is responsible for my death, I was never corrupt' During the preliminary investigation by the police, a suicide note has also been recovered from the spot. According to Birbhum Superintendent of Police (SP) Vidit Raj Bhundesh, initially it appears to be a case of suicide. In the recovered suicide note, the former Deputy Speaker has written that no one is responsible for his death and he is taking this step of his own free will. Along with this, in the note, while mentioning the purity of his political life, he wrote in very emotional words that he remained spotless throughout his life and he never committed any kind of corruption. According to sources, the note also has an indirect reference to the alleged allegations and fingers being raised against Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA), of which he was the chairman for a long time. Police are officially verifying the suicide note with the help of handwriting experts and forensic team and their mobile phone and call details are also being technically examined. From Professor to Deputy Speaker: Ashish Banerjee, who was the invincible face of Rampurhat for 25 years. Dr. Ashish Banerjee was not only a politician, but he also held a prestigious position in the education world. Ashish Banerjee, who did his MA in Bengali Literature from the University of Burdwan and his PhD in 1985, was a retired associate professor. He was counted among very polite and educated politicians. His political journey was very illustrious: MLA for 5 consecutive times: He won from Rampurhat assembly seat for the first time in 2001. After this, he represented the region for 25 years, winning consecutively in the elections of 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. Important ministries in Mamata cabinet: In 2011, when Trinamool Congress made a historic change in West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister, Ashish Banerjee was included in the cabinet. He held important administrative responsibilities as the state's School Education Minister and later as Agriculture Minister. Post of Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly: Due to his parliamentary understanding and gentle nature, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, where he played an important role in maintaining the decorum of the House. Development of Tarapith: While being the Chairman of Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA), he made a major contribution in the modernization of infrastructure, roads and pilgrim facilities of the world famous Tarapith Shaktipeeth temple area. Background of 2026 election shock and resignation from the party core committee: The political developments that have taken place in recent months are also considered to be a major reason behind this unexpected step of Ashish Banerjee. He had to face the first major defeat of his political career from Rampurhat seat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Dhrub Saha defeated him by a margin of more than 24 thousand votes. This unexpected defeat after being undefeated for 25 years had deeply hurt him personally and politically. After the defeat, the tussle within Trinamool Congress also intensified in Birbhum district. In June 2026, Ashish Banerjee suddenly resigned from the post of President of Birbhum District Core Committee of TMC. In the letter sent to the party's state president Subrata Bakshi, he had clearly written that the core committee has become completely inactive in discharging its organizational and political responsibilities. He agreed with the stand of former MLA Abhijeet Sinha, who had also resigned over similar allegations. Ashish Banerjee had announced that he would leave the post and work only as an ordinary member of the party. The election defeat and the neglect arising from the internal politics of the district had left him mentally traumatized. Anubrata Mandal's era and power equation in the politics of Birbhum The politics of Birbhum district has always been a topic of discussion across the state. During the era of Anubrata Mandal, who was the TMC district president of Birbhum for a long time, Ashish Banerjee was his close associate, but due to his straightforward and non-controversial nature, he always stayed away from aggressive factionalism. When the party's organizational structure in Birbhum faltered in recent years following actions by central agencies and political changes, Ashish Banerjee was made the core committee head to take charge of the district. However, he was feeling uneasy amid the growing infighting within the organization and the challenges of creating harmony among the workers. Local analysts believe that the increasing tension in politics and the attacks on character in public life had become unbearable for a leader like him who was serious and had a teacher's background. Crowd gathered outside the party office, eyes of supporters moist. As soon as the news of Ashish Banerjee's demise spread in Birbhum and surrounding districts on Sunday morning, a crowd of thousands of supporters, local residents and party workers gathered outside his residence and party office in Rampurhat. Everyone was shocked that the popular leader of the area by the name of 'Ashish Da' is no more among them. TMC leader Abbas Hussain said with tears in his throat while talking to the media that when he got this news at 7.15 in the morning, the ground slipped under his feet. No one can believe that Ashish Da, who was always calm and took everyone along, took such a suicidal step. Local people say that he used to wake up every morning to listen to the problems of the general public and was always ready to help any citizen. Forensic investigation and legal action by police: Considering the sensitivity of the case, West Bengal Police is investigating from every aspect. Rampurhat sub-divisional police officer and a special team of CID have collected fingerprints and other physical evidence from the spot. Police officials say that despite the suicide note being found, they are impartially investigating all possible angles like murder, abetment to suicide or any external pressure. The post-mortem of the body is being conducted under the supervision of the Magistrate with videography so that the exact time and cause of death can be scientifically confirmed. The district administration has deployed additional police forces to maintain law and order in the area. There is a wave of mourning in the political world of West Bengal on the untimely demise of Ashish Banerjee. The Trinamool Congress leadership has called it an irreparable loss to the party and Bengal politics. Party spokespersons said that Ashish Banerjee's departure has left a void in the social and political life of Birbhum which will be impossible to fill. At the same time, leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, Left Front and Congress have also risen above party politics and expressed deep condolence on the demise of the former Deputy Speaker. Leaders of opposition parties said that Ashish Banerjee was a bhadralok politician who always respected the opposition also. An experienced teacher, sensitive public representative and well-informed politician leaving the world under such suspicious circumstances is a matter of deep introspection for the entire society and politics.