BJP names actor Koel Mallick as West Bengal Rajya Sabha candidate

The BJP has nominated actor-turned-politician Koel Mallick as its candidate for the upcoming West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election, sparking a bitter row with her former party, the Trinamool Congress.

The by-election, scheduled for October 16, was triggered by Mallick’s own resignation from the Upper House in July. She had been elected as a TMC MP just four months earlier, in March, but stepped down after the Mamata Banerjee-led party was ousted from power in the state assembly elections.

With the BJP now controlling 208 of the 294 seats in the Bengal Assembly, Mallick is almost certain to win the seat back under her new party's banner.

TMC alleges betrayal

The nomination has drawn fierce criticism from the TMC. MLA Kunal Ghosh accused Mallick, whose real name is Rukmini Mallick, of political opportunism.

"Koel Mallick is a renowned actor," Ghosh said. "Mamata Banerjee had chosen her to send to the Rajya Sabha. When Mamata Banerjee was chief minister, you liked the TMC. Now she is no longer the chief minister; you joined the BJP. It is betrayal."

Ghosh added that the TMC has historically nominated prominent figures from outside politics—including doctors, singers, and sports stars—out of goodwill to give different sections of society representation. However, he admitted that the actions of individuals like Mallick are forcing the party to rethink this strategy.

During her brief four-month tenure as a TMC MP, Mallick did not attend any parliamentary sessions. Her departure has reduced the TMC's strength in the Rajya Sabha to nine members.

BJP defends the choice

The BJP quickly defended its new candidate, pointing to her clean record. BJP MP Rahul Sinha said there was nothing wrong with fielding Mallick, noting that "no corruption complaint" has ever been filed against her.

State Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul also welcomed the announcement. "I hope she will speak for the people of Bengal and give her full time in the Rajya Sabha," Paul said.

Mallick is the fourth Rajya Sabha member to swap sides in Bengal recently. In June, TMC MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik also resigned, joined the BJP, and were subsequently re-elected as BJP candidates in July.

In a statement released from Delhi on Sunday, the BJP's central election committee also named Dinesh Arya as its Rajya Sabha candidate for the Uttarakhand by-election, which will be held on the same day.