One of the prominent faces of West Bengal politics and former Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy has passed away. He was 71 years old. His son Subhranshu Roy confirmed this. Mukul Roy breathed his last at around 1:30 am on Sunday night at Apollo Hospital in Kolkata. After being admitted to the hospital, his condition remained critical and he was suffering from many health problems.
Mukul Roy was fighting serious diseases
Mukul Roy’s health was deteriorating for the last few years. In 2023, doctors confirmed that he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Brain surgery was also done due to the problem of hydrocephalus in the brain. 2024 was also hospitalized several times, including for head injuries and other neurological problems. After being admitted to the hospital recently, his condition was said to be critical. Son Shubhranshu said, ‘He was suffering from many health related problems.’
How was Mukul Roy’s political journey?
Mukul Roy was born on 17 April 1954 in Kanchrapara, North 24 Parganas district. He started his political journey from Youth Congress. In 1998, along with Mamata Banerjee, he played an important role in the establishment of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He was Mamata Banerjee’s closest associate and became the general secretary of TMC. Elected Rajya Sabha member in 2006.
- Was the leader of TMC in Rajya Sabha from 2009 to 2012.
- In 2012, he became the Union Railway Minister in the Manmohan Singh government.
- After TMC came to power in 2011, he played a big role in strengthening the party.
- Was successful in bringing many CPM and Congress leaders to TMC.
Separated from TMC in 2017 and joined BJP in November. While in BJP, he helped in bringing many TMC leaders into the party, which helped BJP get 18 seats in Bengal in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2021 assembly elections, he won from Krishnanagar North seat on BJP ticket, but returned to TMC in June 2021. On November 13, 2025, the Calcutta High Court had disqualified him from the post of MLA under the anti-defection law.
