Five-time Trinamool Congress MLA Ashish Banerjee was found dead in a party office on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, the body of five-time Trinamool Congress MLA and former West Bengal Minister Ashish Banerjee was recovered from a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. A purported note was recovered near the body in which he vehemently denied involvement in any kind of corruption.
Ashish, who taught at Rampurhat Government College before entering politics, was among the most humble and soft-spoken Trinamool Congress leaders. He served as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly from 2021 to 2026, during the third and final term of the Mamata Banerjee government. His death has sent shock waves through the State. Leaders across parties, including those from the BJP, have described him as an honest politician and asserted that there could be no graft allegations against him.
To many, the 74-year-old leader from Birbhum was an exception, especially given that the district — known as a transit route for cattle and sand smuggling and home to a large number of stone quarries — has emerged as a hub of corruption. However, his clean image did little to protect Ashish from the political fallout after the regime change in Bengal.
Since the announcement of the Assembly poll results on May 4, the Trinamool Congress’s rank and file has been battling allegations of corruption. Slogans of ‘chor chor (thief thief)’ have also been directed at Ms. Banerjee, the party chairperson and former Chief Minister.
Scores of Trinamool leaders arrested on charges of extortion have been subjected to humiliation and mob violence while being produced in courts or taken into custody.
In some cases, the courts have asked the police to ensure that those in custody do not face such ordeals. In others, the courts have denied any relief. Earlier this month, when party MP Mahua Moitra approached the Supreme Court against a Calcutta High Court order asking her to appear in person in a case, the top court remarked, “Freedom fighters faced bullets, and you fear eggs?”
Rush to wash off taint
One reason that the Trinamool Congress split, with the majority of its leaders parting ways with Ms. Banerjee, was the desire to wash off the taint of corruption associated with the previous dispensation.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ritabrata Banerjee, who met the family members of the former Deputy Speaker, said many leaders are being made to take responsibility for the “mafia syndicate of the organised loot and legalised plunder” under the previous regime.
Loyalists of the former CM have highlighted Ashish’s death to claim that switching political allegiance does not guarantee protection from the ruling establishment. Opposition leaders in West Bengal have often referred to the “washing machine” that can “wash off” any graft allegations, provided one joins the BJP.
The Suvendu Adhikari government has been aggressively pursuing cases of wrongdoing under the previous regime.
While the Trinamool Congress has faced widespread criticism over corruption, the ruling establishment could resist the temptation to subject the accused to mob justice.
Politics is largely a matter of perception. It may take years before the cases of alleged corruption against Trinamool Congress leaders reach their legal conclusion. In the meanwhile, the allegations themselves can give licence to some to rail against “thieves” and deprive them of all goodwill.
Ashish’s death brings into focus the stress that Opposition party leaders are under, irrespective of whether they are with Ms. Banerjee or waiting to jump ship. Holding the guilty accountable is best left to the courts. The new government would do well to focus on development rather than on settling political scores.
(Those in distress can contact Tele MANAS at 14416 to seek help)
Published – August 18, 2026 01:32 am IST
