Chanakya of Bengal Politics’ No More: Former Railway Minister Mukul Roy Passes Away at 71
Veteran politician and former Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy passed away at the age of 71 after suffering a massive heart attack. He was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata and breathed his last around 1:30 am, according to his family.
His son, Subhrangshu Roy, confirmed that despite doctors’ efforts, Roy could not survive the cardiac arrest. The senior leader had been battling multiple health complications for several years, including kidney-related ailments, and had been hospitalised periodically.
From Congress Roots to Trinamool’s Master Strategist
Mukul Roy began his political journey with the Indian National Congress before becoming one of the founding pillars of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). Often described as the “Chanakya of Bengal politics,” he played a crucial organisational role in strengthening the party during its formative years.
A close confidant of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Roy was widely regarded as the party’s second-in-command at one point. His strategic acumen and grassroots network made him a key figure in West Bengal’s political landscape.
Role in the UPA Government
During the second UPA government at the Centre, Roy served as:
- Minister of State in the Shipping Ministry
- Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways
- Later, Union Railway Minister
His tenure in the Railways placed him on the national stage, expanding his influence beyond state politics.
Political Switch and Return
In 2017, amid internal party dynamics and growing distance from new leadership within TMC, Roy left the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He emerged as a key strategist for the BJP in West Bengal ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections and contested from the Krishnanagar North constituency. He won the seat and was elected as an MLA.
However, in a dramatic political turn, Roy later rejoined the Trinamool Congress, though he did not resign from his MLA position at the time. Following his deteriorating health, he gradually withdrew from active politics.
A Career Marked by Highs and Lows
Mukul Roy’s political journey was marked by dramatic shifts, strategic manoeuvres, and moments of both prominence and controversy. From being one of TMC’s founding architects to switching allegiances and returning, his career reflected the complex dynamics of West Bengal politics.
In recent years, ill health had kept him largely away from public life. With his passing, Bengal politics loses one of its most seasoned backroom strategists — a leader who shaped political equations behind the scenes for over two decades.
📌 Legacy
Mukul Roy will be remembered as:
- A founding force behind the Trinamool Congress
- A former Union Railway Minister
- A political strategist known for organisational depth
- A leader who influenced Bengal’s political trajectory across party lines
His death marks the end of an era in West Bengal’s contemporary political history.