Political Rift and Alleged Intimidation May Have Driven Ashish Banerjee to End His Life

Ashish Banerjee, a former state minister and former deputy speaker of West Bengal’s legislative assembly, took his own life on August 16, leaving behind a note that has raised many questions. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari suggested that the tragedy might be tied to a “blackmail pressure” possibly exerted by a faction within the Trinamool Congress that has been accused of corrupt practices. Banerjee’s decision to break ranks with the party leadership, refuse a committee chair set up by ex‑chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and ally with the rebel group of expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, marked a significant political rift. The CM highlighted that Banerjee had publicly spoken against internal corruption after the recent assembly elections, a stance that could have made him a target for intimidation. He ordered a detailed probe of Banerjee’s suicide note, mobile phone data, and any threats that may have been made. The chief minister also rejected the narrative that the state administration or the Bharatiya Janata Party forced the suicide, stating no formal notice or threat was issued by either side. He called for a fair, thorough investigation to uncover whether any individual linked to the Trinamool Congress was involved in threatening the late leader.