Kolkata, August 16: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed profound sorrow on Sunday over the passing of Ashish Banerjee, a former MLA and Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly.
In a post on the social media platform X, Mamata Banerjee conveyed her deep sadness and distress regarding Ashish Banerjee’s demise.
The TMC leader stated, “The death of Ashish Banerjee has plunged me into deep sorrow. He dedicated a significant part of his life to education and social service. He was always known for his humble nature and close ties with the people of Rampurhat and Birbhum.”
Mamata Banerjee noted that in his final days, Ashish Banerjee faced considerable mental and emotional stress, despite his long record of public service.
She added, “What makes this tragic event even more painful is that he endured immense mental and emotional pressure in his last days. A five-time MLA and former Deputy Speaker, Ashish Da devoted himself to the development of Rampurhat and accomplished many significant works for the people. Yet, he was repeatedly defamed, faced false accusations, and was under constant pressure.”
The former Chief Minister further remarked, “Despite serving in public life for so long, the kind of harassment and mental pressure Ashish Banerjee faced compels us all to reflect on the human cost of political rivalry. I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family, loved ones, former students, and countless fans. His absence will always be felt.”
According to police reports, Ashish Banerjee was found dead in a room at his residence in Rampurhat, which he also used as a party office. His body was discovered hanging in the TMC office, and a suicide note was recovered from the scene.
Ashish Banerjee was a former MLA from the Rampurhat constituency in Birbhum district. In a handwritten suicide note written in Bengali, he stated that entering politics was his mistake and insisted that he had never been involved in any corrupt activities throughout his political career.
This incident has sparked turmoil in political circles, raising questions about why he took such a drastic step. There are also inquiries regarding whether he committed suicide due to political pressure or if other factors were involved.
The police have initiated an investigation and have sent Ashish Banerjee’s body for autopsy. They are also examining whether the recovered suicide note was indeed written by him.
Ashish Banerjee, who served as an MLA five times from the Rampurhat constituency, was also a minister in the previous TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee and had served as the former Deputy Speaker of the state assembly.
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