Mukul Roy passes away at the age of 71 after prolonged illness

The political landscape of West Bengal mourns the loss of Mukul Roy, a founding member of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), who passed away early Monday morning. Roy suffered a fatal cardiac arrest at Apollo Hospital in Salt Lake, Kolkata, where he had been receiving treatment. His son, Subhranshu Roy, confirmed that the veteran leader breathed his last around 1:30 am.

Starting his journey as a Youth Congress worker, Roy rose through the ranks to become the trusted lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee. As the TMC’s first General Secretary, he was the primary architect of the party's grassroots organizational strength. His sharp political acumen eventually made him the party’s most influential voice in the national capital, serving as the leader of the TMC in the Rajya Sabha.

Roy’s national prominence peaked during the UPA-II government, where he held significant portfolios. After a stint as the Minister of State for Shipping, he succeeded Dinesh Trivedi to become the Union Railway Minister in March 2012. Known for his ability to bridge regional and national politics, his death marks the conclusion of a storied chapter in Indian political history.