Koel Mallick officially becomes a BJP member
On Monday, Kolkata‑based film star Rukmini “Koel” Mallick – daughter of veteran Bengali actor Ranjit Mallick – formally enrolled with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The decision came just a day after the party named her its nominee for the pending West Bengal Rajya Sabha by‑election.
What the move means for her political journey
Addressing reporters at the BJP’s state office, Mallick said the invitation to return to Parliament felt like a great honor and an opportunity to serve the public interest. She expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for their confidence and vowed to champion development projects across the state.
“I am eager to work for the welfare of the people and to contribute to West Bengal’s progress,” she remarked.
BJP West Bengal general secretary Sashi Agnihotri welcomed her warmly, noting that she will soon submit her nomination papers for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat.
A quick look at her political record
Mallick’s first tenure in the Upper House began on 6 April 2024, when she took oath as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) member. After the TMC’s loss in the state assembly elections, she resigned on 16 July, having served just over three months in the Rajya Sabha.
Her abrupt exit raised eyebrows, but it also turned her into a high‑profile recruit for the BJP, which is re‑configuring its West Bengal lineup post‑election.
The upcoming by‑poll and its implications
The by‑election slated for 16 October will fill 12 seats spread across West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In West Bengal, the BJP currently enjoys a comfortable majority in the state assembly, giving Mallick a statistically strong position for the seat she vacated.
Her candidature reflects a growing pattern of former TMC Rajya Sabha members shifting to the BJP and seeking a fresh entry into Parliament.
