Kolkata: Veteran leader of West Bengal and former Railway Minister Mukul Roy passed away late on Sunday night. For the last few days, he was undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Kolkata, where he breathed his last. Mukul Roy was 72 years old. The family announced his death. There is a wave of mourning in political circles due to the demise of Mukul Roy.
Mukul Roy was called Chanakya of Bengali politics. He started his political career from the Left camp, but stayed in the Left camp for a very short time. North 24 Parganas Congress leader Mrinal Singhrai brought him into the party. Mukul started his journey in Congress by joining the student council. Since then, he has been close to Mamata Banerjee.
Founding member of TMC
Mamata Banerjee decided to form a new party in the late nineties. The then opposition leader Mamata planned to form a new party with Mukul and some others. Nine leaders like Mukul, Atin Ghosh and Tamonash Ghosh applied to the Election Commission to form a new party Trinamool Congress. Mamta had not officially become a member of Trinamool at that time. Later, she became a member.
Became Minister of State for Shipping in UPA-2 government
From then till 2017, Mukul became the identity of Trinamool Congress. In 2009, he became the Minister of State for Shipping in the UPA-2 government. Then in 2011, after Trinamool Congress won the assembly elections, Mamata became the Chief Minister. Dinesh Trivedi took over the Railway Ministry from him. Later, Dinesh had to leave the ministry due to resentment over the increase in rail fares. After this Mukul became Railway Minister.
Left TMC and joined BJP in 2017
In 2017, on the Panchami of Durga Puja, the leader had announced his separation from Trinamool Congress by holding a press conference at Nizam Palace. After the puja was over, the former Railway Minister also resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership. There was speculation for several months about Mukul joining BJP. Eventually, on 3 November 2017, he went to the BJP central office in Delhi and became a member of the BJP.
Mukul Roy remained in BJP till June 2021. Mukul became MLA for the first time by defeating Trinamool candidate Kaushani Mukherjee from Krishnanagar North seat. However, after BJP’s defeat in that election, he changed sides and then joined TMC. But, since then Mukul was not seen very active in politics.