- Former West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Banerjee was found dead on Sunday (August 16, 2026) morning inside a party office near his residence in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.
- A note was found and the body has been sent for autopsy; the note stated he was not involved in any “wrongdoing”.
- The note read: “I had nothing to do with corruption and yet all these completely false allegations to malign me…”
- The Trinamool Congress was apparently referred to supposed allegations of wrongdoings related to the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority where he had served as the chairperson.
- Leaders across political lines expressed grief over the untimely demise of the Trinamool Congress leader.
- After the change in the regime in the State, several Trinamool Congress leaders are being investigated for alleged corruption, and several leaders and former MLAs have been arrested.
Ashis Banerjee, a prominent figure in West Bengal politics, was discovered dead in a Trinamool Congress office on August 16, 2026. The 75-year-old, who served five terms as an MLA and was Deputy Speaker from 2021 to 2026, left behind a note asserting his innocence against corruption allegations.123
The note read, “I had nothing to do with corruption and yet all these completely false allegations to malign me…” This statement comes amid a backdrop of investigations into several Trinamool leaders for alleged corruption, particularly concerning the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority, where Banerjee had been chairperson.45
His death has sparked widespread grief across political lines, with many leaders expressing condolences. The political climate in West Bengal has been tense, especially following the recent Assembly elections where Banerjee lost to BJP's Dhruba Saha.
The ongoing scrutiny of the Trinamool Congress has led to several arrests of former leaders and MLAs, raising questions about the party's integrity and governance.
Banerjee's untimely demise adds to the growing concerns regarding the political landscape in West Bengal, as the party grapples with allegations and the fallout from the recent electoral defeat.
“The note, found with the body, also referenced alleged wrongdoings at the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority, where Banerjee had served as chairperson. His death comes amid a state crackdown on TMC leaders, with several former MLAs already arrested.”
