The political fraternity in West Bengal is reeling from the loss of veteran leader Mukul Roy, former Union Minister and ex-TMC stalwart. BJP’s Dilip Ghosh led the tributes, voicing deep sorrow over his passing.
In an emotional address to reporters in Kolkata, Ghosh described Roy as Bengal’s senior-most politician, a key TMC national leader, and a seasoned central minister. ‘His contributions to Bengal politics were immense, and even in BJP, we gained from his vast experience,’ Ghosh recalled.
Roy breathed his last late Sunday at Apollo Hospital following a cardiac arrest, after prolonged struggles with various ailments. Admitted when his health worsened, the family officially announced his death, shocking many.
Roy’s journey was nothing short of remarkable. Rising as TMC’s general secretary and Mamata Banerjee’s trusted aide, he was instrumental in the party’s formation post her Congress exit. In the late 90s, he was part of the nine leaders who filed for TMC’s registration with the Election Commission, drawing in disillusioned Congress workers.
His 2017 defection to BJP, complete with resigning his Rajya Sabha membership, sent ripples through Bengal politics. He remained with BJP till 2021, but illness sidelined him from public life thereafter.
Ghosh reflected on Roy’s forced exit from TMC and ongoing health battles. ‘He could have given more to politics,’ he said, invoking blessings for eternal peace.
As condolences flood in, Roy’s legacy as a master strategist bridging TMC and BJP eras stands tall. His absence leaves a void in Bengal’s dynamic political arena, where crossovers and alliances defined his career.