Full Breakdown
Koel Mallick’s Party Switch and Rajya Sabha By-poll Bid
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Defection and Nomination
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Rukmini Mallick, known as Koel Mallick, resigned on July 16, 2026 after taking oath on April 6, 2026. The next day she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On October 4, 2026 the BJP’s central election committee nominated her for the West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-poll scheduled for October 16.
Background & Context
Koel Mallick, daughter of actor Ranjit Mallick, entered politics when TMC chief Mamata Banerjee nominated her for a Rajya Sabha seat in March 2026. Her resignation followed the TMC’s defeat in the May 4 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, a setback that prompted several defections, including three TMC MPs who joined the BJP on July 9, 2026.
Timeline
- April 6, 2026 – Takes oath as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP.
- July 16, 2026 – Resigns, submitting the letter to Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan.
- July 9, 2026 – Three former TMC MPs (Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Prakash Chik Baraik) join BJP.
- September 22, 2026 – Election Commission announces biennial elections for 11 seats and a West Bengal by-poll on October 16.
- October 4, 2026 – BJP nominates Mallick for the West Bengal seat.
- October 16, 2026 (scheduled) – Rajya Sabha elections across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal; West Bengal by-poll to fill Mallick’s vacancy.
Data & Statistics
- The by-poll fills a single Rajya Sabha seat vacated by Mallick.
- The BJP controls 208 of 294 seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, making its victory in the by-poll “almost certain” per multiple sources.
- The October 16 election includes 12 seats: 10 from Uttar Pradesh, 1 from Uttarakhand, and the West Bengal by-poll.
Official Statements & Responses
- BJP West Bengal general secretary Sashi Agnihotri said Mallick would file her nomination the same day she joined the party.
- The BJP’s central election committee confirmed her candidacy, highlighting the party’s “development initiatives” in the state.
- Rajya Sabha member Rahul Sinha dismissed criticism, urging opponents to assess their own relevance.
Criticism & Opposition
- TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh called the move “betrayal,” saying it undermined the party’s policy of nominating professionals.
- TMC spokesperson Krishanu Mitra accused the BJP of “accommodating former TMC leaders” and warned that “this should not surprise anyone.”
- Mamata Banerjee, TMC chairperson, noted that the MP had already submitted her resignation by email and thanked her for the personal submission.
Why It Matters
Mallick’s candidacy reflects a pattern of high-profile defections that have strengthened the BJP’s parliamentary presence in West Bengal, reducing the TMC’s Rajya Sabha tally from twelve to nine seats.
What’s Next
- October 6 – Last date for filing nomination papers.
- October 7 – Scrutiny of nominations.
- October 9 – Deadline for withdrawal of candidature.
- October 16 – Voting and counting for the Rajya Sabha elections, including the West Bengal by-poll.