Kolkata, 23 February (H.S.): Mukul Roy, a senior leader in West Bengal politics and once known as the Chanakya of Bengal politics, passed away late Sunday night. He was 71 years old. He had been suffering from several health problems, including kidney problems, and was admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata, where he died of a heart attack. His death has sent shockwaves through political circles.
As per information, Mukul Roy had been unwell for a long time and required frequent hospitalizations for treatment. Late Sunday night, his health suddenly deteriorated during treatment and he passed away following a heart attack. Upon receiving news of his death, a crowd of Trinamool Congress leaders, workers, and supporters gathered outside his residence.
According to sources, the process of bringing his body from the hospital has begun. His body will be brought to the Assembly at around 12 noon on Monday, where the Speaker and public representatives will pay their last respects. The body will then be taken to his residence in Kanchrapara.
Notably, Mukul Roy entered politics with the Congress and later became a founding member of the Trinamool Congress. He was also a Rajya Sabha MP for a time and served as the Minister of Shipping and later the Minister of Railways in the Central Government.
In later years, he left the Trinamool and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2021, he won the Krishnanagar North Assembly seat as a BJP candidate and became an MLA. He subsequently returned to the Trinamool Congress, although he did not resign from his MLA post. Consequently, he remained a BJP MLA on paper and was also appointed Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The matter regarding his MLA status reached the court. The Calcutta High Court ordered the cancellation of his membership, although the Supreme Court later granted an interim stay on that decision.
After a long and tumultuous political journey, Mukul Roy finally ended his political career as an MLA. His demise is being considered a big loss for Bengal politics.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
