Former West Bengal Deputy Speaker Asish Banerjee's purported suicide note says no one was responsible for his death, while also claiming that he was targeted in attempts to malign and humiliate him. In the handwritten Bengali note, the five-time TMC MLA allegedly defended himself against corruption allegations, explained his role in the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA) and said he now felt that joining politics had been a mistake.

Mathrubhumi could not independently verify the authenticity of the purported suicide note.

Banerjee, 74, allegedly wrote that he had been involved in politics since his student days but had never been involved in corruption. Referring to his time as general secretary of the students' union, he said he had never taken money in exchange for any work.

“I did never take single paise against any work I have done,” he allegedly wrote.

The note also contains a detailed denial of any involvement in decisions concerning the Tarapith-Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA). Banerjee allegedly wrote that, apart from attending its general meetings, he had no other responsibilities there.

He claimed he was never part of the tender committee and had no power to issue cheques. He also denied having any role in the approval of building plans or no-objection certificates (NoCs), saying nobody discussed such matters with him.

“I condemned what have been done against me to malign me,” he allegedly wrote.

The former MLA also referred to his political differences and said that while there had been differences in political ideology, there was no enmity. He allegedly added that he could never protest against what he described as the party's misdeeds.

The most striking part of the purported note comes towards the end, where Banerjee reflects on his political career.

“Today, I think that it’s a blunder to join politics,” he allegedly wrote, before advising the younger members of his family not to enter politics and instead pursue their own work.

Banerjee's remarks about being allegedly maligned have drawn attention following his death. BJP MLA from Rampurhat Dhruba Saha has called for an impartial investigation, questioning who Banerjee was referring to in the note.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee was a veteran TMC leader who represented the Rampurhat Assembly constituency for five consecutive terms over 25 years. He served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly and had also held ministerial portfolios, including AYUSH and Agriculture.

A professor at Rampurhat College, Banerjee lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP's Dhruba Saha in the latest Assembly election. He stepped down as chairman of the TMC's Birbhum district core committee in June, weeks after the party's defeat in the polls.

Police have said a suicide note was recovered after Banerjee was found dead at the TMC office next to his residence in Birbhum. His body was taken to Rampurhat Medical College for post-mortem.

With ANI inputs