Asish Banerjee, a former deputy speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and a close aide of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, was found dead at a party office in Birbhum district on Sunday, police said.

The body of Banerjee was found hanging at the Trinamool Congress office next to his residence in Rampurhat. Police sent the body for postmortem examination.

Banerjee served as deputy speaker during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as West Bengal chief minister and represented Rampurhat as an MLA five times.

He contested the state assembly election earlier this year but lost to BJP candidate Dhruba Saha.

Banerjee lived in the Hattalapara area of Rampurhat. A large number of people gathered outside the Trinamool office after news of his death spread.

He had also served as West Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after the Trinamool Congress first came to power under Mamata Banerjee.

In June, Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’ Birbhum district core committee, although he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

His death comes at a time of major political changes in West Bengal following the Trinamool Congress’ defeat after 15 years in power.

In the latest state election, the BJP won six of Birbhum district’s 11 assembly constituencies, compared with just one seat won by the party in 2021. The Trinamool had won 10 constituencies in the district in the previous election.

Several former Trinamool legislators and leaders are also facing corruption investigations and arrests following the party’s electoral defeat.

Police said further details about Banerjee’s death would be known after the postmortem examination and investigation.

Source: NDTV