Actress Koel Mallick Switches from TMC to BJP as Candidate for West Bengal Rajya Sabha Seat

Koel Mallick, a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP, has been announced as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate for the West Bengal biennial Rajya Sabha by‑election. Mallick, a well‑known Bengali film star, was nominated by TMC chief minister Mamata Banerjee and took oath on April 6, 2026, but resigned on July 16, 2026 without attending any parliamentary session. Her resignation followed TMC's major setback in the recent West Bengal assembly polls and a wave of defections from the party. The Election Commission has set October 16, 2026 for the by‑election, with nomination papers due by October 6 and withdrawals allowed until October 9. Mallick submitted her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan in Delhi, and Banerjee later said Mallick had informed TMC leadership of her decision via email before formally stepping down. Banerjee praised Mallick as a respected artist and noted she had met a BJP leader before resigning. Koel Mallick, also known as Rukmini Mallick, is the daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick and Deepa Mallick, holds a B.Sc (Honours) in Psychology, studied at Modern High School for Girls and Gokhale Memorial Girls College, and married producer Nispal Singh in 2013. ## Context Her move illustrates a growing trend of regional film personalities entering national politics, and the timing aligns with BJP's strategy to expand its presence in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 state elections.