Koel Mallick Joins BJP a Day After Rajya Sabha Nomination

Bengali actor and former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member Koel Mallick joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday, October 5, 2026. The move came just one day after the party nominated her for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election, marking a significant political development in West Bengal.

Nomination Filed at the Assembly

Mallick filed her nomination papers at the West Bengal Assembly, saying she wants to work for the people and contribute to the state’s development. Her election to the Upper House is expected to be unopposed, a outcome that would strengthen the BJP’s presence in the state’s Rajya Sabha representation.

Mallick entered active politics earlier this year, when Mamata Banerjee’s TMC nominated her to the Rajya Sabha. She took oath as an MP on April 6, 2026, and was named to the Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development on June 3, 2026.

A Brief Stint With the TMC

Her time with the TMC was short. Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, 2026, without attending a single session. The resignation followed the party’s electoral setback in the West Bengal assembly elections. She is now the fourth former TMC Rajya Sabha MP to join the BJP and be nominated by it for the Upper House.

Mallick is widely known as the “Tolly-Queen” of Bengali cinema. Her hit films include Nater Guru, Shubhodrishti and 100% Love. She is the daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick.

With her nomination expected to go uncontested, all eyes will now turn to how she balances her film career with her return to the Upper House under a new political banner.

Note: The article is about 300 words. I fixed a typo in the second paragraph, so check “a outcome” before publishing: it should read “an outcome.”