Death of Former Bengal Minister Ashish Banerjee Spotlights Corruption Allegations and Political Turmoil
KOLKATA: The body of five-time Trinamool Congress MLA and former West Bengal Minister Ashish Banerjee was recovered on Sunday morning from a party office adjacent to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district. A purported note found near the body contained a vehement denial of any involvement in corruption. The 74-year-old leader's death has triggered an outpouring of grief and renewed focus on the corruption allegations that have roiled Bengal politics since the change of government in May.
Banerjee, a former professor at Rampurhat Government College, was known for his humble and soft-spoken nature. He served as Deputy Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly from 2021 to 2026, during the final term of the Mamata Banerjee-led government. Leaders across the political spectrum, including from the Bharatiya Janata Party, described him as an honest politician who had no graft allegations against him.
The Birbhum district, where Banerjee was a prominent leader, has been described by many as a hub of corruption. It lies on a transit route for cattle and sand smuggling and is home to numerous stone quarries. Despite his clean image, Banerjee was not immune to the political fallout that followed the assembly election results announced on May 4. Since then, Trinamool Congress leaders have faced widespread allegations of corruption, extortion, and other wrongdoing during the previous regime.
Several Trinamool leaders arrested on corruption-related charges have been subjected to humiliation and mob violence while being produced in courts or while in custody. In some instances, courts have directed the police to protect defendants from such ordeals; in others, relief has been denied. Earlier this month, when Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra approached the Supreme Court after a Calcutta High Court order requiring her personal appearance in a case, the court remarked, "Freedom fighters faced bullets, and you fear eggs?"
The political atmosphere has also been shaped by a split in the Trinamool Congress, with a significant number of leaders, including former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's former close aide Suvendu Adhikari, joining the BJP. The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, who met the family of the deceased, said several leaders are being made to take responsibility for what he called the "mafia syndicate of organised loot and legalised plunder" under the previous regime.
Some loyalists of the former Chief Minister have pointed to Ashish Banerjee's death to argue that switching political allegiance does not guarantee protection from the ruling establishment. Opposition leaders in Bengal have often referred to a "washing machine" that can wash away graft allegations for those who join the ruling party. The current government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has been aggressively pursuing cases of wrongdoing from the previous regime.
While the Trinamool Congress has faced legitimate criticism over corruption, law enforcement and judicial processes must be allowed to proceed without prejudice. The principle of rule of law demands that accusations be tested in court, not on the streets. Mob justice, regardless of the seriousness of the allegations, undermines constitutional values and deprives individuals of their right to a fair legal process.
Ashish Banerjee's death underscores the immense stress that Opposition leaders are under in the present political environment. It is essential for the new government to focus on governance and development rather than settling political scores. Holding the guilty accountable is best left to the courts, which must act independently and without fear or favour. As the investigation into the circumstances of Banerjee's death proceeds, the state must ensure that no one is denied dignity or due process.
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