Koel Mallick, a prominent Bengali film actor, has been selected as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election from West Bengal. The election is scheduled for October 16, following her resignation from the Upper House as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) member. Mallick, who was sworn in as an MP on April 6, resigned on July 16, just months after her party suffered a major setback in the West Bengal assembly polls. Her resignation came amid a wave of defections from the TMC, which had previously nominated her as a candidate for the Rajya Sabha.

Mallick, also known as Rukmini Mallick, is the daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick and has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Psychology. She completed her education at Modern High School for Girls in Kolkata and Gokhale Memorial Girls College. Her transition to politics was unexpected, as she had been a well-known figure in Bengali cinema. She married Nispal Singh in 2013 and later joined the TMC, where she served as an MP for a brief period before resigning.

Mamata Banerjee, the TMC leader, acknowledged Mallick’s resignation, stating that she had already sent her resignation via email before formally submitting it. Banerjee expressed respect for Mallick’s artistic contributions and noted that her decision was communicated to the party leadership. The BJP’s selection of Mallick as its candidate marks a significant shift in the political landscape of West Bengal, where the TMC has traditionally held strong support. The by-election is set to take place during the Durga Puja festivities, adding a cultural dimension to the political contest.