Mamata Banerjee mourns ex-TMC MLA Asish Banerjee, flags 'mental pressure' before death

Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday expressed grief over the death of former Trinamool Congress MLA Asish Banerjee, saying he appeared to have faced immense "mental and emotional strain" in his final days.

In a post on X, Banerjee said Banerjee, a five-term MLA, former Deputy Speaker and Chairman, had spent much of his life teaching and serving people in Rampurhat and Birbhum.

She described him as a humble person with a close bond with people in the region and said he had undertaken several development works for Rampurhat.

"What makes this tragedy even more painful is the immense mental and emotional strain he appears to have endured in his final days," Banerjee said.

She alleged that despite his record of public service, Asish Banerjee was "repeatedly maligned, falsely accused and subjected to relentless pressure".

She said the harassment and mental pressure faced by the former MLA should prompt reflection on the "human cost of relentless political hostility".

Banerjee also offered condolences to his family. "My heartfelt prayers and condolences to his family, loved ones, former students and countless admirers. His absence will be deeply felt, always," read her post.

‘Lifelong teacher and public servant’

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also condoled the death of Ashish. Abhishek said the death was not only heartbreaking but should also raise questions about the boundaries that politics and journalism must observe.

He described Asish Banerjee as a "lifelong teacher and public servant" who had spent decades serving people with "honesty, dignity and simplicity".

"His final note raises serious and troubling questions about the sustained smear campaign he said he had endured," Abhishek Banerjee said.

He alleged that the BJP and "sections of the media" should reflect on the consequences of a political environment in which allegations are amplified and individuals are subjected to public judgment before the truth is established.

"Those who participated in this smear campaign should reflect on the human consequences of their words and actions," he said, adding that political battles would come and go but "a life once lost can never be brought back".

Mamata Banerjee also said the harassment and mental pressure faced by Asish Banerjee should prompt reflection on the "human cost of relentless political hostility".

Asish found dead at TMC office in Birbhum

Former Trinamool Congress MLA and former West Bengal Assembly Deputy Speaker Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office in Birbhum on Sunday, police said. A suicide note was also recovered from the spot.

Following the news, TMC workers gathered outside the party office and at Banerjee's residence in Rampurhat.

Banerjee, a five-time MLA from Rampurhat, had stepped down as chairman of the TMC's Birbhum district core committee in June, weeks after the party suffered defeat in the Assembly elections. He subsequently lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP's Dhruba Saha.

Before entering politics, Banerjee was a professor at Rampurhat College. He later served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly and held portfolios including AYUSH and Agriculture.

Police have registered a case and said further investigation is underway.