Kolkata, Oct. 4 -- Actor-turned-politician Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, is set to return to the Rajya Sabha, barely three months after resigning as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) nominee. This time, she will contest as a BJP nominee.
On Sunday, the BJP named Koel Mallick as its candidate for the October 16 Rajya Sabha bypoll to the seat she had vacated on July 16.
Mallick's candidature marks a dramatic political turnaround. The TMC nominated her to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, and she took oath on April 6. However, she resigned on July 16, shortly after the Assembly polls, and later joined the BJP. Her brief stint in Parliament ended without her attending a single Rajya Sabha sitting.
The BJP's decision has cleared the way for her to retain the same Rajya Sabha seat, this time as a BJP member. Recently, the BJP also nominated three former Trinamool Rajya Sabha MPs-Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Prakash Chik Baraik and Sushmita Deb-after they switched parties. All three are now BJP MPs.
With the BJP enjoying a clear majority in the state Assembly following its victory in 207 seats in the 2026 Assembly polls, her election is expected to be a formality unless there is an unexpected contest.
This development also underlines the BJP's continued effort to draw prominent faces from Bengal's cultural and public spheres into active politics.
The EC has scheduled polling on October 16 and nominations close on October 6, with scrutiny to be held on October 7 and candidates can withdraw till October 9.
Mamata All India Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, however, criticised Mamata Banerjee for giving Koel a Rajya Sabha ticket, saying she had proved to be a 'turncoat'.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.