Bengal’s prominent leader Mukul Roy has passed away at the age of 71. He breathed his last in a private hospital in Salt Lake. There is a wave of mourning in the political world due to his demise.
Kolkata: Mukul Roy, a veteran leader of Bengal politics, is no more. At the age of 71, he breathed his last in a private hospital in Salt Lake. His son Shubhranshu has confirmed the news of his demise. As soon as the news of Mukul Roy’s demise spread, there was mourning in the political circles and a crowd of his supporters started gathering outside the hospital.
There was a time when Mukul Roy was considered the second biggest leader in Trinamool Congress (TMC) after Mamata Banerjee. He played an important role in the politics of the state and the country for decades. He had a major role in strengthening the party after ending the 34-year-old Left rule in Bengal in 2011. He also held the post of Railway Minister of the country. However, later he also joined BJP for some time.
Mukul Roy joined BJP in November 2017. He is also given the credit for strengthening the organization of BJP in Bengal. Especially in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when BJP won 18 seats in Bengal. In the 2021 assembly elections, he also won from Krishnanagar North seat on BJP ticket. But after a few days he returned back to Trinamool.
Following this, Leader of Opposition Subhendu Adhikari and BJP MLA Ambika Roy demanded cancellation of his MLA under the anti-defection law. The Assembly Speaker refused to cancel his membership, after which the matter reached the Calcutta High Court. The High Court ordered the cancellation of Mukul Roy’s MLA, although the Supreme Court later put an interim stay on this order.
Mukul Roy was ill for the last two years and was admitted in the hospital. His health was continuously deteriorating. He was not able to recognize even familiar faces and was being given a liquid diet through a Ryle’s tube. It is being told that he suffered a heart attack at around 1.30 in the night, which became the reason for his death.