Trinamool MP to BJP Rajya Sabha pick in 6 months: Curious case of Koel Mallick

On April 6, 2026, renowned Bengali actress Koel Mallick took her oath as a Rajya Sabha MP from the Trinamool Congress. Expressing her gratitude, Mallick shared that she was honored to serve the people of Bengal and remarked that this marked the start of a new journey. The short-lived tenure proved to be brief. Less than a month later, the Trinamool Congress suffered a significant loss in the Assembly polls, resulting in a power shift to the BJP.

This electoral setback sparked a disarray within the Trinamool Congress, with several leaders departing from the party, including Mallick herself, who resigned as a Rajya Sabha MP on July 16. Almost immediately, Mallick met with Union Minister Bhupender Yadav at his residence in Delhi. Within three months, she had joined the BJP's list of candidates for the Rajya Sabha.

Prior to her BJP affiliation, the party had inducted former Trinamool MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik in a short span of time. Koel Mallick, a celebrated actor in Bengali cinema, has garnered numerous accolades, including the Bengal government's Mahanayak Samman in 2023. A graduate of Modern High School and Gokhale Memorial Girls' College, she holds a degree in psychology.

Daughter of celebrated actor Ranjit Mallick and a devoted wife to film producer Nispal Singh, Mallick's journey into the BJP was marked by a series of intriguing encounters. On January 15, she met BJP's national general secretary and Mamata Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, at his residence, where she was presented with a report card detailing the Trinamool government's 15-year achievements.

Later, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari honored Ranjit Mallick at the centenary celebrations of legendary actor Uttam Kumar. On September 4, Mallick officially joined the BJP, filing her nomination in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and party's state president Samik Bhattacharya. Mallick expressed her satisfaction, stating that she was honored to be given such a significant responsibility and vowed to work for the betterment of the people.

She avoided direct questions about her disaffection with the Trinamool Congress, avoiding any sense of animosity. Instead, Mallick emphasized her optimism for the BJP's approach and her commitment to addressing the needs of the people.