Politics – Mamata Banerjee Mourns Passing of Veteran Leader Mukul Roy
Politics – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed profound grief over the death of senior Trinamool Congress leader and former Union railway minister Mukul Roy, describing his passing as a deeply personal and political loss. Roy died in Kolkata around 1:30 am after battling prolonged health complications, including serious kidney issues and dementia. He was 69.
A Key Architect of Trinamool’s Early Years
Mukul Roy was among the founding members of the Trinamool Congress when the party was formed in 1998. At the time, he served as one of its general secretaries and played a significant role in shaping the organisation during its formative phase. Over the years, he emerged as a trusted lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee, particularly during the party’s prolonged political struggle against the Left Front government in West Bengal.
In a message posted on social media platform X in Bengali, the Chief Minister said she was “shocked and saddened” by Roy’s demise. She recalled their years of political collaboration, describing him as a long-time associate and a fellow fighter in many movements that eventually altered the state’s political landscape.
Banerjee noted that Roy worked tirelessly to build the party’s structure from the grassroots level upward, earning acceptance and respect across various tiers of the organisation.
Political Journey Marked by Shifts and Returns
Roy’s political career extended beyond state politics. He served as a Union minister in the central government, including a tenure as railway minister. His administrative experience and organisational acumen were widely acknowledged within political circles.
Though he later shifted allegiance to another political formation, Roy eventually returned to the Trinamool Congress. Mamata Banerjee acknowledged this chapter in his career, saying that despite political divergences, his contribution to Bengal’s political discourse and party-building efforts would remain part of the state’s history.
She extended condolences to his family members and supporters and urged his son, Subhrangshu Roy, to remain strong during this period of grief.
Tributes from Party Leadership
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also paid tribute to Roy, calling his death the end of an important chapter in West Bengal’s political narrative. In his message on X, he described Roy as a veteran leader whose experience and strategic insight were instrumental in expanding and consolidating the party in its early years.
Abhishek Banerjee said Roy’s dedication to public life would continue to be remembered by party workers and political observers alike. He offered his sympathies to Roy’s family, friends and supporters, expressing hope that they find strength in this difficult time.
Family Reacts to Personal Loss
Reacting to his father’s passing, Subhrangshu Roy, a former Trinamool Congress legislator, spoke to reporters about the emotional impact of the loss. He said that while political parties and supporters may reflect on Mukul Roy’s contributions, for him the loss was deeply personal and irreplaceable.
“I do not know how much loss the party has suffered, but for me, it is beyond measure. I have lost the protective presence over my life,” he said.
End of a Political Era
Mukul Roy’s career spanned decades of significant political change in West Bengal. From the early days of building a new regional party to serving in ministerial roles at the national level, he remained a visible figure in state politics. His strategic skills and organisational abilities were often credited with strengthening the Trinamool Congress during its critical early years.
As tributes continue to pour in, political leaders across the spectrum are expected to remember his role in reshaping West Bengal’s political dynamics. His death marks the close of a chapter that intersected with some of the most defining political battles in the state’s recent history.