Veteran Leader Mukul Roy Passes Away at 71

New Delhi, February 23, 2026: Mukul Roy, a towering figure in West Bengal politics and one of the primary architects of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has passed away. He was 71. Roy had been battling prolonged illness and neurological complications for several months, marking the end of a career that spanned decades and redefined the political landscape of Eastern India.

The news of his demise has sent shockwaves through the political fraternity, with leaders across the spectrum offering their condolences for a man often described as the “ultimate strategist.”

The Architect of Change

Mukul Roy’s political journey was inextricably linked with that of Mamata Banerjee. In 1998, he was one of the founding members of the Trinamool Congress, helping to break away from the Indian National Congress to form a platform that would eventually topple the 34-year-old Left Front regime in 2011.

While Banerjee was the face of the movement, Roy was its backbone. Known for his profound organizational skills, he was the man who understood the pulse of the rural electorate and built the party’s grassroots network from the ground up.

National Stature and the Railway Ministry

Roy’s influence was not limited to West Bengal. He represented the TMC in New Delhi with significant weight, serving as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha for multiple terms.

His most notable stint at the Centre was as the Union Minister of Railways in 2012, following the resignation of Dinesh Trivedi. During his tenure, he was known for maintaining a delicate balance between national infrastructure goals and the populist leanings of his party.

A Complex Political Legacy

In 2017, after nearly two decades as Mamata Banerjee’s “Number Two,” Roy made a high-profile shift to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His defection was seen as a watershed moment, providing the BJP with the local expertise and organizational mapping it needed to expand its footprint in West Bengal.

Under his guidance, the BJP saw a meteoric rise in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, politics came full circle in 2021 when Roy returned to the Trinamool Congress shortly after the state assembly elections, citing a desire to return to his “original home.”

Tributes Pour In

Leaders from various political ideologies have expressed their grief:

• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described his passing as a “personal loss,” noting that his contribution to the early struggles of the TMC would never be forgotten.
• BJP Leadership acknowledged his role in strengthening the party’s foundation in the state during a critical transition period.
• Political Analysts have noted that Roy’s departure marks the end of an era of “backroom diplomacy,” where personal relationships often transcended party lines.

A Final Farewell

Mukul Roy is survived by his son, Subhranshu Roy, who followed his father’s footsteps into public service. His death leaves a void in a state where political acumen and grassroots connection are the highest currencies of power.

As West Bengal remembers its “Chanakya,” he will be honored for his ability to navigate the most turbulent waters of Indian democracy with a quiet, calculated persistence.