Couldn't protest against party wrongdoings: TMC's Asish Banerjee in suicide note

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former West Bengal minister Asish Banerjee allegedly died by suicide inside a party office near his residence in the state's Birbhum district, leaving behind a purported note in which he appeared to claim innocence against allegations of corruption.

His body was found hanging on Sunday morning. In his purported note, Banerjee, who was also an ex-Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, apparently referred to supposed allegations of wrongdoings related to the Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority (TRDA), where he had served as the chairperson.

The veteran TMC leader claimed that he had no role in the civic planning and development agency's tender-related decisions, cheque issuance, plan approvals or no-objection certificates.

"In TRDA (Tarapith Rampurhat Development Authority), no files were given to me for 3.5 years. I was not in the Tender Committee, nor did I have cheque-signing power. I did not issue plan



approvals or No Objection Certificates (NOCs). So, no grants were given. No one ever held any discussions with me on these matters; I had no scope at all in these affairs," he allegedly wrote in the letter.

He also wrote that although he could not always accept "wrongdoings" within his party, he had been unable to protest against them.

Banerjee also claimed that he never indulged in corruption throughout his political career. He alleged that attempts had been made to "malign" and humiliate him, and said he felt that entering politics was a mistake.

The ex-lawmaker was 74 and is survived by his wife and son. Banerjee, who had been associated with politics since his student days and had also worked as a teacher, advised members of his family not to enter politics and recalled the affection he had received from his students.

"Throughout my life, I have never taken a single penny in exchange for doing any work," he allegedly wrote.