BJP Nominates Koel Mallick for Rajya Sabha By-Election

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated actor-turned-politician Koel Mallick, also known as Rukmini Mallick, as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal. The poll, scheduled for October 16, was necessitated by Ms. Mallick's own resignation from the Upper House in July.

Political Transition and Nomination

Ms. Mallick was originally elected to the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamool Congress (TMC) ticket in April 2026. She submitted her resignation to Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan on July 16, 2026. Shortly after her resignation, she was observed meeting senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, which fueled speculation regarding her political shift. According to The Hindu, the BJP's central leadership formally announced her nomination on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

Elected in April 2026 on a TMC ticket, Koel Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, 2026, subsequently meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah prior to her October nomination by the BJP.

Internal Party Debate

This nomination marks the fourth instance of a former Trinamool Congress MP being fielded by the BJP for a Rajya Sabha seat after resigning from their initial term. In July, the BJP had similarly nominated three other former TMC Rajya Sabha members, Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, and Prakash Chik Baraik, to the Upper House shortly after they joined the party.

Under Section 154(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a member chosen to fill a casual vacancy in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) serves only for the remainder of their predecessor's term of office.

These repeated nominations have triggered internal discussions within the BJP regarding the "Trinamoolisation" of the party. A section of BJP leaders has expressed concern, arguing that the party is prioritizing the accommodation of former political opponents over long-standing party members who campaigned against the TMC before the BJP gained significant ground in West Bengal. The by-election is set for October 16, with the deadline for filing nominations on October 6.