Veteran politician and former Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy passed away on Sunday at the age of 71 following a cardiac arrest, marking the end of a long and influential political journey that shaped West Bengal and national politics for over three decades.
Mukul Roy was widely regarded as one of the principal architects behind the rise of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). As a founding member of the party, he played a decisive role in building its organisational structure and expanding its political base across West Bengal. His political career, however, was also marked by dramatic transitions, including his move to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) before eventually returning to the TMC, reflecting the shifting political dynamics of the state.
At the national level, Roy served as Union Railway Minister in 2011 during the UPA-2 government, a tenure that placed him at the centre of crucial infrastructure and transport policymaking at a critical phase of India’s development. His role in the UPA government strengthened his profile as a key national leader with influence beyond regional politics.
In state politics, Mukul Roy represented the Krishnanagar Uttar constituency as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and was also a two-time Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, underlining his enduring relevance in both legislative and organisational politics.
Political leaders across party lines expressed condolences, remembering him as a skilled strategist, mass leader, and a politician who significantly influenced West Bengal’s contemporary political narrative. His death not only marks the loss of a seasoned political figure but also closes an important chapter in the evolving story of regional and national politics in India.
Mukul Roy is survived by his family and a political legacy defined by resilience, reinvention, and a lasting impact on the structure and direction of modern West Bengal politics.
