West Bengal lost a political heavyweight on Monday as Mukul Roy, ex-Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress founder-member, succumbed to illness at 73 in a Kolkata hospital. Family members, including son Subhranshu, confirmed his passing around 1:30 AM after months of futile treatment for chronic conditions.
Roy was synonymous with TMC’s origins. A trusted lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee, he ranked second in the party hierarchy as general secretary. In the late 1990s, he joined eight others in registering TMC with the EC, backed by defecting Congress leaders, propelling Banerjee’s vision forward.
His career soared nationally via TMC’s UPA partnership. Roy excelled as Shipping and Urban Development Minister of State before ascending to Railway Minister under Manmohan Singh, navigating complex policy terrains adeptly.
Rift with TMC brass grew; demotion and exclusion followed. In 2017, he jumped ship to BJP, resigning Rajya Sabha. Triumph in 2021 Krishnanagar Uttar polls as BJP MLA was short-lived—he switched back to TMC post-elections, aiding Banerjee’s hat-trick victory while clinging to his seat.
Controversy ensued: Speaker rejected disqualification, named him PAC head. Calcutta High Court overturned this on November 12, 2024; Supreme Court stayed it on January 16, 2025, amid Subhranshu’s appeal.
Roy embodied the drama of Bengal politics—loyalty shifts, courtroom clashes, and power plays. Leaders from TMC, BJP, and beyond paid homage, underscoring his enduring impact. His departure prompts questions on loyalty and legacy in a fiercely contested state.