Mukul Roy had snubbed PM Manmohan Singh while in office as a minister in UPA-2.
Former Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy passes away at the age of 71
Paradoxically and technically, he was founding president/chairperson of Trinamool Congress, when the regional party was launched in 1997.
Mamata Banerjee only joined later and then took over the reins of the ourfit.
Former railway minister Mukul Roy, once regarded as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's most trusted lieutenant and the TMC's principal strategist, died of cardiac arrest at a private hospital early on Monday.
In 2012 a day after a train derailed in Assam following a blast, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked minister of state for railways Mukul Roy to visit the site but he virtually defied him, arguing that the track had been cleared and there was nothing for him to inspect.
When contacted, Roy said, "I have nothing to say. I suggest you contact the General Manager of the NF Railway about this."
Northeast Frontier (NF) railway general manager MR Chandra said, "The minister (Roy) has already offered to visit the derailment site near Rangiya. But we told him that the ground reality is such that the situation is almost normal and there is no death except for some injuries."
He was 71, and is survived by his son, Subhranshu Roy, also a politician.
Once Mukul Roy was called Chanakya in West Bengal politics..
He breathed his last around 1.30 am at the hospital in Salt Lake, Subhranshu Roy said.
He had been suffering from multiple ailments and was in and out of the hospital over the past two years. Family members said he had also been diagnosed with dementia and had recently gone into a coma.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the demise of veteran leader Mukul Roy, describing him as a long-time political colleague and co-fighter in many struggles. In a Bengali post on X, Banerjee said she was "shocked and saddened" by Roy's passing and recalled that he had worked tirelessly for the Trinamool Congress since its founding, earning acceptance across all levels of the party.
"I am deeply shocked and grieved by the sudden news of the demise of veteran politician Mukul Roy. He was my long-time political colleague and a comrade-in-arms in many political struggles. The news of his departure has left me heartbroken," she said.
Mamata noted that he had later chosen a different political path before returning, and said his contribution to West Bengal politics and organisational skills would not be forgotten.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the death of former Union minister Mukul Roy, and said he will be remembered for his political experience and efforts to serve the society.
"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," Modi wrote on X.
Mamata's nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also condoled Roy's death.
In an X post, he wrote: "The demise of Mukul Roy marks the end of an era in West 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," he added.
A former Union minister and two-time Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal, Roy's four-decade-long political journey saw his stints in the Congress, TMC and the BJP.
His political career began with the Youth Congress, before he joined hands with Mamata Banerjee when she broke away from the grand old party to form the Trinamool Congress.
Roy quickly emerged as one of the key organisational pillars of the fledgling party and went on to serve as its general secretary.
He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2006 and became the party's leader in the Upper House in 2009, turning into TMC's principal troubleshooter in Delhi.
In the UPA-2 government, when the TMC was a constituent, Roy first served as Minister of State for Shipping before taking over as the railway minister in 2012.
He had replaced Dinesh Trivedi as Railway Minister mid way during Budget session when fares for train tickets were increased. Mukul Roy and Sudip Bandyopadhyay had alleged that Dinesh Trivedi did not take Mamata's permission before announcing increase in ticket fares.
In West Bengal's political circles, Roy earned a reputation as a backroom operator deft in organisational work.
Following the TMC's historic victory in 2011 that ended 34 years of the Left Front rule, he played a significant role in consolidating the party's hold in several districts, overseeing defections from the CPI(M) and the Congress, strengthening the new regime's political base.
However, his career was not without controversy. His name had surfaced in the Saradha chit fund case and the Narada sting operation.
By 2017, relations between Roy and the TMC leadership had deteriorated. In November that year, he joined the BJP in a move that altered the state's political equations.
Tasked with strengthening the BJP's organisation in West Bengal, Roy was credited by party leaders with helping engineer defections from the TMC and expanding the saffron party's base ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in which the BJP won 18 of the state's 42 seats.
He was elected as a BJP MLA from the Krishnanagar Uttar constituency in the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections.
Within months, however, he returned to the TMC, triggering legal and political wrangling. Subsequently, a court disqualified him as an MLA under the anti-defection law for switching parties after being elected on a BJP ticket.
Though he rejoined the TMC, Roy never regained the political centrality he once enjoyed. As his health declined, he gradually withdrew from active politics.
Often described as the 'Chanakya' of West Bengal politics during his prime, Roy remained a pivotal figure in the state's turbulent political landscape.
Leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, also condoled Roy's death.
In an X post, he wrote, "Deeply disheartened to learn about the sad demise of senior politician, Shri Mukul Roy. My sincere condolences to his family. Praying that his soul attains eternal peace. Om Shanti."
The Saradha and Narada scandals cast a long shadow over Roy’s political career, marking a significant turning point.
These weren’t just financial misdeeds; they represented the first cracks in the TMC’s carefully crafted image of integrity. Roy’s name became deeply associated with the nexus of political funding and systemic exploitation. Critically, how Roy handled the ensuing investigations shaped his subsequent political path.
Unlike individuals defined by steadfast ideological commitment, Roy’s political approach was fundamentally transactional.
As central investigative agencies tightened their focus, the “architect” began to strategically reposition himself within the political arena.
Roy’s move to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017 was a watershed moment in Indian politics.
He brought not only his personal influence but also the TMC’s strategic playbook.
He equipped the traditionally urban-focused BJP with the tactics needed to effectively compete in West Bengal’s rural areas, significantly contributing to their strong showing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
However, his return to the TMC in 2021, after the BJP failed to win the state government, was met with considerably less enthusiasm.
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