BJP fields Koel Mallick for West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election on Oct 16
Synopsis
Koel Mallick resigned a Rajya Sabha seat she barely used — never attending a single session — and is now set to reclaim it on a BJP ticket. Her candidacy follows a near-identical script played out by at least three other former TMC Rajya Sabha MPs this year, pointing to a structured political migration that is reshaping West Bengal's representation in the Upper House.
Key Takeaways
BJP announced Rukmini Mallick (Koel Mallick) as its Rajya Sabha by-election candidate from West Bengal on 4 October 2026 .
Polling is scheduled for 16 October 2026 , coinciding with Maha Sashthi , the opening day of Durga Puja .
Mallick had been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamool Congress ticket in March 2026 but resigned on 16 July 2026 without attending any parliamentary session.
Her resignation and BJP candidacy mirrors the trajectory of former TMC MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy , Sushmita Dev , and Prakash Chik Baraik , all of whom returned to the Upper House as BJP members.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) also announced biennial elections for 11 Rajya Sabha seats across the country on 16 October .
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 4 October 2026, named actress-turned-politician Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal, scheduled for 16 October 2026. The announcement confirms weeks of speculation that the former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP would formally switch to the saffron camp after resigning her Upper House seat in July.
Background: The Vacancy and the By-Election
Koel Mallick was elected to the Rajya Sabha in March 2026 on a Trinamool Congress ticket, alongside former West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, former state Tourism Minister Babul Supriyo, and senior Supreme Court advocate Menaka Guruswamy. She resigned from the Upper House on 16 July 2026, meeting Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan in New Delhi to formally submit her resignation. Her departure left the seat vacant and triggered a mandatory by-election.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on 22 September 2026 announced biennial elections for 11 Rajya Sabha seats nationwide, along with this by-election for the single vacant West Bengal seat, all scheduled for 16 October. Notably, the polling date coincides with Maha Sashthi, the opening day of the Durga Puja festivities — a symbolically charged timing in a state where the festival carries deep cultural weight.
The Signals That Preceded the Announcement
Speculation about Mallick's political trajectory mounted immediately after her resignation. Shortly after meeting Radhakrishnan, she was also reported to have held a meeting with Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav in New Delhi, widely read as a signal of alignment with the BJP. Sunday's candidacy announcement formally ends the guesswork.
Notably, despite holding the Rajya Sabha membership for several months, Mallick reportedly did not attend a single parliamentary session before resigning. The Monsoon Session 2026 would have been her first opportunity to participate in proceedings, had she chosen to remain.
A Broader Pattern of TMC Exits
Mallick's defection is part of a larger wave of Trinamool Congress departures from the Rajya Sabha following the party's significant defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik were among the earlier resignees who subsequently secured re-election to the Upper House as BJP candidates. Mallick's trajectory follows the same pattern, reinforcing what analysts describe as a structural realignment of West Bengal's political landscape in favour of the BJP at the national level.
What Happens Next
With the BJP formally fielding Koel Mallick, the contest on 16 October will test the party's strength in the West Bengal legislative assembly, where members of the state legislature constitute the electorate for Rajya Sabha polls. The Trinamool Congress has not yet announced its candidate for the by-election. The outcome will offer an early indicator of how post-Assembly-election political realignments are playing out in terms of actual legislative arithmetic.
Point of View
Re-contest as BJP, win on the same seat — has now repeated at least four times in 2026 alone, suggesting the BJP has a well-rehearsed playbook for converting West Bengal's post-election momentum into durable legislative gains. What is striking is the brazenness: Mallick did not attend a single Rajya Sabha session before resigning, making the membership appear transactional from the start. For the Trinamool Congress, each such departure chips away at its claim to represent Bengal's aspirations at the national level — a narrative dent that compounds with every by-election loss.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Koel Mallick and why is she in the news?
Koel Mallick, whose legal name is Rukmini Mallick, is a Bengali actress-turned-politician. She is in the news because the BJP named her as its candidate for the West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election on 16 October 2026, after she resigned her seat as a Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP in July 2026.
Why is the West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election being held?
The by-election is being held because Koel Mallick vacated the seat by resigning from the Rajya Sabha on 16 July 2026, having been elected on a Trinamool Congress ticket in March 2026. The Election Commission of India announced the by-election on 22 September 2026, scheduling polling for 16 October 2026.
When is the West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election scheduled?
The by-election is scheduled for 16 October 2026, which coincides with Maha Sashthi — the opening day of the Durga Puja festival. The ECI announced the date on 22 September 2026 alongside biennial elections for 11 other Rajya Sabha seats.
How does Koel Mallick's switch fit into West Bengal's broader political picture?
Her defection is part of a wave of Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MPs leaving the party following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik followed the same path — resigning as TMC MPs and winning re-election on BJP tickets — before Mallick did.
Did Koel Mallick attend any Rajya Sabha sessions before resigning?
No. According to reports, Mallick did not attend a single parliamentary session despite being a Rajya Sabha member for several months. The Monsoon Session 2026 would have been her first opportunity to participate, had she not resigned before it concluded.
