Mukul Roy, former Railway minister and once TMC No. 2, passes away at 71

Later he emerged as the party’s face in Delhi. Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2006 and re-elected later, Roy became the TMC’s leader in the Upper House in 2009. In the UPA-II government, he served first as Minister of State for Shipping and later as the Railway Minister in 2012, replacing party colleague Dinesh Trivedi.

A backroom strategist once hailed as the ‘Chanakya of West Bengal politics’, after the TMC’s victory in 2011 ended the Left’s uninterrupted 34-year rule, Roy oversaw an unprecedented wave of political defections from the Congress and CPI(M).

Mukul Roy with TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee. (Express Photo: Partha Paul))

As the general secretary of the TMC till 2015, he was de facto number two in the party. However, his legacy was shadowed by two of the state’s biggest alleged corruption scandals: Saradha and Narada.

What started as a legal battle with central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) slowly turned into a wall of mistrust. While his colleagues were arrested, Roy, though questioned by the agency, had managed to avoid handcuffs, raising eyebrows within his own party.

Following differences with the TMC, he was removed from the general secretary post and he formally joined the BJP in November, 2017, where he worked on the ground helping the party build base, and is credited with the party winning 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He also helped the BJP woo a number of TMC stalwarts in its fold. In 2020, he was appointed the national vice president of the BJP and was elected MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar on a BJP ticket in 2021.

However, soon over growing distance with the BJP, he returned to TMC in June 2021.

But back in TMC, Roy was never his earlier self, both in stature and acumen. Roy reportedly suffered from dementia and various other ailments. The Calcutta High Court on November 13, 2025 disqualified him as MLA under the anti-defection law for switching over to the ruling TMC, after having been elected on a BJP ticket in the 2021 elections. The decision was later stayed by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, tributes poured in from all quarters of the political spectrum for the veteran leader on Monday.

“Pained by the passing of former Union Minister Shri Mukul Roy Ji. He will be remembered for his political experience and efforts to serve society. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X.

“I am saddened and shocked by the news of the sudden demise of veteran politician Mukul Roy. He was my long-time political colleague, a fellow fighter in many political struggles. The news of his passing has left me heartbroken. Late Mukul Roy has sacrificed his life for the Trinamool Congress since its inception. He became a Union Minister and was accepted by all levels of the party. Later, he went on a different path and came back again. His contribution and organizational skills in Bengal politics should not be forgotten. His absence will be felt by the political circles irrespective of party affiliation. My heartfelt condolences to the family and fans of this veteran leader and colleague. To Shuvrangshu, take heart: we are with you in this crisis,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on X.

TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee wrote on X, “The demise of Mukul Roy marks the end of an era in Bengal’s political history. A veteran leader with vast experience. His contributions helped shape an important phase of the state’s public and political journey. As a founding pillar of the All India Trinamool Congress, he was instrumental in expanding and consolidating the organisation during its formative years. His dedication to public life will be recalled with admiration. I extend my sincere sympathies to his family, friends and admirers. May his soul be granted eternal peace.”

“Deeply disheartened to learn about the sad demise of Senior Politician; Shri Mukul Roy. My sincere condolences to his family. Praying that his soul attain eternal peace. Om Shanti,” BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X.

BJP state President Samik Bhattacharya said, “He was a very good organiser. He came to the BJP for a while. Later he was forced to join Trinamool Congress. We never wished such end of Mukul Roy.”