Koel Mallick quits Rajya Sabha, 4th Trinamool MP to exit after Bengal poll rout
Synopsis
Koel Mallick's Rajya Sabha resignation — just three months after being elected and without attending a single session — is the fourth in a post-Bengal-poll exodus from Trinamool's Upper House bench. Her visit to a BJP Union minister's home immediately after resigning has set off a near-certain countdown to a floor-crossing that could mirror three predecessors who are already BJP bypoll candidates.
Key Takeaways
Koel Mallick (Rukmini Mallick) resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 16 July , barely three months after her election.
She is the fourth Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member to resign since June 2025 following the party's West Bengal election defeat.
Predecessors Sukhendu Sekhar Roy , Sushmita Dev , and Prakash Chik Baraik all resigned, joined the BJP , and are now BJP bypoll candidates.
Mallick was spotted at the residence of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav immediately after submitting her resignation — fuelling BJP-switch speculation.
She did not attend a single session of the Rajya Sabha despite being elected unopposed in February 2025 .
Actress-turned-politician Koel Mallick (formally Rukmini Mallick), a leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 16 July — barely three months after being elected unopposed to the Upper House. She is the fourth Trinamool Rajya Sabha member to step down since June 2025, following the party's landslide defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections.
The Resignation and How It Unfolded
Mallick had initially sent her resignation letter to Rajya Sabha Chairperson and Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan via email. However, Rajya Sabha rules require a member to appear in person to formally vacate their seat. Accordingly, she presented herself at the Chairperson's office on Thursday afternoon and submitted the letter in person.
Notably, shortly after tendering her resignation, Mallick was spotted at the official residence of Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav — a visit that has fuelled intense speculation about her political next step.
Three Predecessors Who Crossed the Floor
Mallick's exit follows a near-identical pattern set by three other Trinamool Rajya Sabha members. Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik each resigned from the Upper House in quick succession after the Bengal results, subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and have since been nominated as BJP candidates for the bypolls scheduled later this month for the three seats they vacated. Political observers in West Bengal now widely expect Mallick to follow the same trajectory.
A Surprise Nomination That Raised Eyebrows
When the Trinamool Congress announced its four Rajya Sabha nominees in February 2025, the list drew considerable surprise. Alongside Mallick, the party fielded former West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, singer-turned-politician and former Union minister Babul Supriyo, and senior Supreme Court advocate Dr Menaka Guruswamy. All four were elected unopposed.
Despite her election, Mallick did not attend a single session of the Rajya Sabha. She instead remained in West Bengal, campaigning extensively for Trinamool candidates during the assembly polls — a campaign that ultimately ended in the party's heavy defeat.
Who Is Koel Mallick
A prominent face of Bengali cinema, Mallick is the daughter of celebrated actor Ranjit Mallick, a well-known figure from the Bengali film industry. Her entry into active politics was seen as part of Trinamool's strategy to leverage star power ahead of the state elections.
What Comes Next
With her Rajya Sabha seat now vacated, a bypoll for that constituency is expected to be announced shortly. If she follows the pattern of her predecessors, a formal induction into the BJP and a bypoll candidacy could be imminent. Political circles in Kolkata are watching closely for any official announcement from either party.
Point of View
Meanwhile, is harvesting ready-made name recognition without the cost of cultivating these figures from scratch — a low-risk, high-visibility play in a state it is aggressively trying to consolidate.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Koel Mallick resign from the Rajya Sabha?
Koel Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha on 16 July, reportedly in the aftermath of the Trinamool Congress's landslide defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. She is the fourth Trinamool Rajya Sabha member to resign since June 2025 following that result.
Who are the other Trinamool MPs who resigned from the Rajya Sabha?
Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned before Mallick. All three subsequently joined the BJP and have been nominated as BJP candidates for the upcoming bypolls for the seats they vacated.
Is Koel Mallick joining the BJP?
No official announcement has been made, but speculation is strong. Mallick was spotted at the residence of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav shortly after submitting her resignation — a visit political observers in West Bengal see as a strong signal she may follow her three predecessors into the BJP.
Did Koel Mallick attend any Rajya Sabha sessions?
No. Despite being elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in February 2025, Mallick did not attend a single session. She spent the period campaigning for Trinamool Congress candidates in West Bengal's assembly elections.
What happens to Koel Mallick's Rajya Sabha seat now?
With her resignation accepted, a bypoll for the vacated seat is expected to be announced. If the pattern set by her predecessors holds, the seat could see a BJP-nominated candidate — potentially Mallick herself — contest the bypoll.
