'Entering politics was mistake': Mamata aide Asish Banerjee's suicide note surfaces

Former Trinamool Congress MLA and deputy speaker Asish Banerjee was found dead in his party office on Sunday, with a purported suicide note discovered. The note claimed Banerjee never engaged in corruption and blamed entering politics for his downfall. It reflects on his political career and includes his reflections on his time in office.

Banerjee advised his family to stay away from politics and ended the note by stating, "No one is responsible for my death." The note also addressed what Banerjee referred to as "wrongdoings" within the Trinamool Congress, admitting he could not always object but had been unable to protest against them. He claimed he only attended general meetings and was not part of the tender committee, asserting he was not implicated in decisions related to tenders, cheques, plan approvals, or no-objection certificates.

Banerjee's suicide note alleges that attempts were made to malign and humiliate him, describing himself as an honest and highly educated leader. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam praised Banerjee and suggested his name may have been maligned by the opposition. Banerjee was a five-time MLA and former minister, holding portfolios including AYUSH and agriculture, and served as a professor at Rampurhat College.

He resigned as chairman of the Birbhum district core committee in June, following the party's defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. Banerjee lost his Rampurhat seat in the polls to BJP candidate Dhruba Saha. Following his death, TMC workers gathered outside the party office and Banerjee's residence in Rampurhat.