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Tollywood Star Koel Mallick Makes Shocking TMC-to-BJP Switch for Rajya Sabha
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News18•04-10-2026, 16:02
Tollywood Star Koel Mallick Makes Shocking TMC-to-BJP Switch for Rajya Sabha
- •Tollywood actress Koel Mallick has been named by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal.
- •This nomination comes less than three months after she resigned from the Upper House as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, marking an extraordinary political turnaround.
- •Koel Mallick, born Rukmini Mallick, is the daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick and made her acting debut in 2003.
- •Her entry into politics was unexpected, having no established political career before TMC nominated her for a Rajya Sabha seat earlier this year.
- •She resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, just over three months after taking oath, and subsequently met with BJP leaders, fueling speculation of her switch.
Key Questions Answered
Koel Mallick took oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 6 and resigned from her position on July 16, serving for just over three months without attending a single sitting of Parliament.
Her resignation on July 16 occurred amid a broader political crisis for the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Polling for the West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election, where the BJP has named Koel Mallick for the seat that fell vacant after her resignation, is scheduled for October 16.
