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Veteran TMC Leader Mukul Roy Dies After Prolonged Illness in Kolkata
Senior TMC leader Mukul Roy died at 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest at Apollo Hospital in Salt Lake, Kolkata. His son Subhranshu Roy confirmed that he had been battling multiple ailments, including Parkinson's disease. He had three operations and spent more than two years in the hospital until his final days, when he entered a coma.
A Political Career That Shaped Bengal
A founding member of the Trinamool Congress, Mukul Roy was considered one of the party’s key strategists during its formative years. Before TMC was created, he was part of the Congress. During the second UPA government led by Manmohan Singh, he served as Minister of State in the Shipping Ministry and later in the Ministry of Railways.
Shift to BJP and Legal Controversy
In May 2021, Roy was elected as a BJP MLA but returned to the Trinamool Congress in August that year in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.
His switch triggered a legal battle over defection. The Supreme Court later stayed a Calcutta High Court order that had disqualified him from the State Assembly, granting interim relief.
Leaders Across Parties Pay Tribute
Political leaders across party lines expressed grief. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said, “He was an experienced politician. He became a Union Minister too. When he came to the BJP, he was given a lot of respect.” He added that Roy had been ill for the past two to three years and could not actively participate in politics.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X, “Deeply disheartened to learn about the sad demise of Senior Politician; Shri Mukul Roy. My sincere condolences to his family.”
A Legacy Beyond Party Lines
Mukul Roy’s death ended a complicated period of West Bengal politics. His path from Congress to Trinamool Congress to BJP demonstrated how state leaders can change their loyalties during their careers.
His career demonstrated that personal power had a greater impact on party strategies than party control during the political changes that Bengal experienced at that time