Kolkata, August 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A political controversy erupted in West Bengal on Sunday following the death of former Assembly Deputy Speaker and ex-Trinamool Congress MLA Ashish Banerjee, who was found dead at his home office in Rampurhat, Birbhum district.
Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh, a prominent leader of the party faction that continues to support former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Banerjee’s death.
Ghosh claimed that Banerjee had left behind a suicide note in which he referred to the mental pressure caused by the fear of social stigma. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party should take responsibility for the circumstances that led to the former legislator’s death and called for an impartial probe.
Ghosh’s reference to Banerjee as a “Good Trinamool” appeared to point to the former MLA’s reported alignment with the rival faction within the Trinamool Congress led by expelled party legislator Ritabrata Banerjee.
BJP MLA Dhruba Saha, who defeated Ashish Banerjee from the Rampurhat Assembly constituency by around 24,000 votes in the recently concluded state elections, also called for an investigation.
Saha said he had met Banerjee only a few days earlier and expressed disbelief over his death. He said an inquiry was necessary to determine why a five-time MLA took such an extreme step and whether there were any other factors involved. He also suggested that another agency could investigate the matter, if required.
There was no immediate reaction from Mamata Banerjee or Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari when the report was filed.
A teacher by profession, Ashish Banerjee represented Rampurhat as an MLA five times. He served as Agriculture Minister in the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government and also held the post of Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly.
Following the Trinamool Congress’ defeat in the recent Assembly elections, coupled with his own electoral loss, Banerjee had largely remained away from the party’s activities. His family members had also said that he had kept away from political engagements during this period.
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