Kolkata/IBNS, Oct. 5 -- In a political somersault, Bengali film star Koel Mallick on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), just six months after taking oath as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP.

Koel joined the BJP at the party's office in Kolkata ahead of filing her nomination for the Rajya Sabha.

Her name was announced as the BJP's candidate on Sunday, triggering a wave of memes and trolling on social media over her political switch months after the regime change in West Bengal.

Koel Mallick at BJP state office. Photo: BJP Media Unit

Koel, who was considered close to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, played it safe when asked about her decision to join the TMC, answering the question through the prism of devel...