Former Railway Minister and senior All India Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy died in Kolkata at the age of 72 due to cardiac arrest, doctors confirmed. He had been seriously ill for several months. According to sources, he died at approximately 2:35 a.m.
Mukul Roy had been admitted to Apollo Hospital in Kolkata, where he had been undergoing treatment for prolonged health complications. Doctors stated that the cause of death was cardiac arrest. His passing has led to expressions of grief within the All India Trinamool Congress and across West Bengal’s political sphere.
Roy had been away from active politics in recent years due to deteriorating health. In early 2023, doctors confirmed that he was suffering from dementia and Parkinson’s disease. His condition had resulted in memory impairment and a significant decline in physical activity. He had been hospitalized for an extended period and had reportedly been in a coma for several months.
Within the All India Trinamool Congress, Roy was regarded as one of the party’s most senior leaders after Mamata Banerjee. He was known within the party as a crisis manager and strategist, playing a role in election planning, addressing organisational challenges, and strengthening the party structure.
During the 2010s, differences emerged between Roy and the All India Trinamool Congress, particularly following controversies including the Saradha chit fund case. In February 2015, he was removed from the post of National General Secretary. In September 2017, he resigned from the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in November 2017. He later returned to the All India Trinamool Congress in June 2021.
In West Bengal’s political landscape, Roy was often referred to as “Bengal’s Chanakya” in reference to his strategic acumen. Following his death, several senior leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress and other political figures expressed condolences.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described him as a b pillar of the party and recalled his services. Several central leaders and senior leaders from other states also expressed condolences through social media and public statements.
