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Former Railway Minister and TMC leader Mukul Roy passed away at 1:30 am at Apollo Hospital in Salt Lake, Kolkata. His son, Subhrangshu Roy, confirmed the news. It is being reported that he died of cardiac arrest. Subhrangshu Roy said his father had been suffering from several health issues. His condition recently worsened. He was subsequently admitted to the hospital, where he passed away late Sunday night while undergoing treatment.
Mukul Roy began his political career with the Youth Congress in Bengal. A founding member of the Trinamool Congress, Roy became a close associate of Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee for a long time. Mamata initially appointed Mukul as the party’s general secretary. He subsequently emerged as a prominent face of the TMC in Delhi. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2006 and served as the party’s leader in the Upper House from 2009 to 2012. However, Roy left the TMC in November 2017 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Played a Key Role in Strengthening the TMC in West Bengal
It is said that Mukul Roy played a key role in strengthening the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. This resulted in the TMC coming to power in the 2011 assembly elections. During Roy’s tenure as the then TMC General Secretary, a large number of CPM and Congress leaders defected. In effect, Roy helped several prominent leaders from the Congress and Left parties join the TMC. Meanwhile, he had a falling out with Mamata Banerjee over some party-related decisions, leading to Roy’s departure from the BJP.
Roy Deals a Blow to the TMC with the BJP’s Support
After joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2017, Mukul Roy made the TMC realize its stature. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 18 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal, a role played by Roy. Roy is believed to have made inroads into the TMC’s core voters. He is said to have played a key role in bringing several prominent TMC leaders to the BJP. He contested the 2021 Krishnanagar North seat on a BJP ticket and won the assembly elections.
Return from BJP to TMC in June 2021
Meanwhile, Mukul Roy left the BJP in June 2021 and returned to the TMC. On November 13, 2025, the Calcutta High Court disqualified Roy as an MLA under the anti-defection law. During this period, Mukul suffered health problems. He became ill and withdrew from politics. It is reported that he had not attended any party meetings for the past two years.
Who was Mukul Roy? Why was he called the ‘Chanakya’ of Bengal?
After the founding of the TMC party in January 1998, Mukul Roy played a key role in building the organization along with Mamata Banerjee. It is said that Mukul and Mamata Banerjee began their political career together in the Youth Congress. When Mamata Banerjee formed the party, she appointed Roy as the General Secretary and sent him to Delhi as the party’s face. Roy never looked back. Mukul emerged as a prominent face of the party in Delhi politics. Meanwhile, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2006 and served as the party’s leader in the House from 2009 to 2012.
During the UPA-2 government, he first served as Minister of State for Shipping and later became Railway Minister in March 2012. Due to his strategic skills in Bengal politics, Mukul Roy was sometimes given the title of “Chanakya.” It is believed that Mukul played a major role in spreading Mamata Banerjee’s name to every corner of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee also holds Mukul in high regard. Even after Roy joined the BJP, Mamata Banerjee refrained from commenting on him. When Mukul returned to TMC, Mamata welcomed him with open arms.
