Former Railway Minister Mukul Roy dies at the age of 71, was once number 2 in TMC after Mamata

Former Railway Minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy died of cardiac arrest at 1:30 am on Sunday at Apollo Hospital in Salt Lake, Kolkata. His son Subhranshu Roy confirmed this. Mukul Roy, who was suffering from dementia and many other serious diseases for a long time, had gone into coma a few days ago. With his death an important chapter in the politics of West Bengal has come to a close.

Mukul Roy, who was Mamata Banerjee’s closest aide, saw many ups and downs in his political journey. Roy, one of the co-founding members of Trinamool Congress, surprised everyone by joining BJP in 2017. Where he played a decisive role in strengthening the party in Bengal. Later, due to deteriorating health, he again returned to TMC. His life was one of the most famous and mysterious faces of Bengal politics.

Son’s emotional statement

Talking to the media, an emotional Subhranshu Roy said that everything is over. He died of a heart attack at around 1:30 pm. After that it was not possible to bring him back alive.

steadily deteriorating health condition

For the last two years, Mukul Roy kept getting admitted to the hospital repeatedly. His condition worsened day by day. He had lost the ability to recognize familiar faces and was being fed liquid food through a Ryle’s tube. According to sources, his mortal remains will be brought to his residence on Monday, where the last rites will be performed.

political journey

Mukul Roy, Mamata Banerjee’s most trusted aide and considered the party’s second in command, surprised everyone by suddenly joining BJP in 2017. Just two years before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, this move proved to be a masterstroke for the BJP. He created the grassroots strength of BJP in Bengal by bringing many big leaders into the party. In 2019, BJP won 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats, in which Roy’s strategy was important.

2021 assembly elections

Won from Krishnanagar on BJP ticket in 2021 assembly elections. But his influence in the party gradually started decreasing. Suvendu Adhikari left BJP just a month after becoming the leader of opposition in the assembly. Finally on June 11, 2021, he returned to TMC with Mamata Banerjee.

Chanakya of Bengal politics

Mukul Roy, known as Chanakya of Bengal politics, founded Trinamool Congress with Mamata Banerjee in 1998. He played an important role in snatching power from the Left Front in 2011. In the UPA-2 government, he was the Minister of State for Shipping and Railway Minister from March to September 2012.

Controversy and distance from the party

In 2015, he was removed from the post of General Secretary from TMC after the sting operation in Saradha chit fund scam and Narada case. After these controversies, his relationship with Mamata Banerjee deteriorated.

Dementia and disqualification from the post of MLA

Symptoms of dementia became public in 2023, when he described himself as a BJP MLA in Delhi. In 2025, the Calcutta High Court disqualified him from the post of MLA for violation of the anti-defection law.