Koel Mallick Officially Joins BJP After Rajya Sabha Ticket, Says ‘Blessed and Delighted’

Kolkata: Bengali film actor and former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Koel Mallick, whose legal name is Rukmini Mallick, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata on Monday, October 5.

Her BJP induction came a day after the party named her as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal, scheduled for October 16. The seat fell vacant after Mallick resigned from the Upper House on July 16, 2026.

Koel Mallick Says She Is ‘Blessed and Delighted’ to Join BJP

After joining the BJP, Koel Mallick said she was honoured, blessed and delighted to become part of the party.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP's West Bengal headquarters in Kolkata, Mallick said she wanted to contribute to the development and welfare of the people.

She said it would be an honour to become a member of the Upper House of Parliament again and get an opportunity to work for the welfare of the people.

Mallick also spoke about contributing to development and employment in West Bengal and expressed gratitude to the BJP leadership for giving her the opportunity.

BJP Welcomes Koel Mallick Into Party

Welcoming Mallick into the BJP, the party's West Bengal general secretary Sashi Agnihotri said she would file her nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat on Monday.

Her decision to join the BJP marks a significant political shift after her brief stint as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP earlier this year.

Mallick was nominated by the TMC for the Rajya Sabha in March and took oath as a member of the Upper House on April 6. She resigned from the post on July 16, only a few months after taking oath.

From TMC Rajya Sabha MP to BJP Candidate

Koel Mallick's political transition comes just months after she entered active politics through the TMC.

She was nominated by the party for the Rajya Sabha earlier this year and became a member of the Upper House on April 6. Her resignation in July was followed by speculation about her political future and a possible move to the BJP.

Mallick is the daughter of veteran Bengali film actor Ranjit Mallick and is one of the prominent names in Bengali cinema. Her move from the TMC to the BJP has attracted considerable political attention in West Bengal.

BJP Names Koel Mallick for Rajya Sabha Bypoll

The BJP announced on Sunday, October 4, that it had selected Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, as its candidate for the West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election.

The party also announced Dinesh Arya as its candidate from Uttarakhand.

The West Bengal by-election has been necessitated by Mallick's resignation from the Rajya Sabha in July. The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 16.

The October 16 elections will cover 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, including the by-election for the vacant Bengal seat.

রাজ্য বিজেপি প্রধান কার্যালয়, ৬ মুরলিধর সেন লেনে সাংবাদিকদের মুখোমুখি রাজ্য সাধারণ সম্পাদিকা শ্রীমতি @shashikisoch https://t.co/ga8ZNHHR6t

— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) October 5, 2026

Koel Mallick Set to Return to Rajya Sabha?

With the BJP fielding her from West Bengal, Mallick now has an opportunity to return to the Rajya Sabha just months after resigning from the Upper House.

The BJP is in a strong position in the contest for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat, given its strength in the West Bengal Assembly.

If elected, Mallick would return to Parliament this time as a BJP member after previously entering the Rajya Sabha as a TMC nominee.

Her political journey has therefore taken a dramatic turn within a few months — from being nominated by the TMC, to resigning from the Upper House, and now joining the BJP and contesting the same Rajya Sabha seat on a BJP ticket.

A Major Political Shift in Bengal

Koel Mallick's move comes at a time of significant political realignment in West Bengal.

Her resignation from the Rajya Sabha in July had already triggered speculation about her next political move. Her subsequent meeting with BJP leaders further fuelled expectations that she could join the saffron party.

With her formal induction into the BJP and nomination for the Rajya Sabha by-election, those speculations have now come to an end.

The October 16 election will determine whether Mallick returns to the Upper House and begins the next phase of her political career as a BJP representative.