Koel Mallick Joins BJP Day After Rajya Sabha Nomination, Says ‘Blessed and Delighted’

October 5, 2026

Kolkata: Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP and Bengali film actor Koel Mallick officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata on Monday, a day after the party nominated her as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal.

After joining the BJP, Mallick said she was “honoured, blessed and delighted” to become a member of the party.

“I am proud of the development taking place in the state over the last few months. I know how to serve the people. Humanity is the greatest religion,” she said.

Mallick added that it would be an honour to become a member of the Upper House of Parliament and get an opportunity to work for the welfare of the people.

Koel Mallick to file Rajya Sabha nomination

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

The BJP had nominated Mallick for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat in West Bengal on Sunday. The election for the seat is scheduled for October 16, along with elections to 11 other Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The West Bengal seat became vacant after Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, 2026. Her original term was scheduled to continue until April 2, 2032.

Mallick had earlier represented TMC in Rajya Sabha

Koel Mallick, daughter of veteran Bengali film actor Ranjit Mallick, had a short stint as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP from April 6 to July 16.

She resigned from the Upper House following the Mamata Banerjee-led party’s electoral setback in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Mallick was the fourth Rajya Sabha MP to resign in July 2026. Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik had also resigned from the Upper House. All three subsequently joined the BJP and won re-election.

The BJP has a majority in the West Bengal Assembly and is positioned to win the vacant Rajya Sabha seat due to its strength in the state Assembly.