Fresh blow to Mamata Banerjee as actor Koel Mallick quits Rajya Sabha seat, meets BJP’s Bhupender Yadav

Her resignation came just three months after she entered the Upper House and was followed by a meeting with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, prompting speculation over her political future.

Mallick's departure marks another high-profile exit from the Trinamool Congress amid a series of resignations by MPs and MLAs from the ruling West Bengal party.

Resignation submitted to Rajya Sabha Chairman

Koel Mallick, whose legal name is Rukmini Mallick, submitted her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan.

In her resignation letter, she wrote: "I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect."

Koel Mallick's resignation letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman. Photo: IBNS arrangements

She also expressed gratitude to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, stating, "I convey my sincere gratitude to your Excellency, Hon'ble Deputy Chairman and all functionaries of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat extending all help and cooperation during my tenure as a Member of the Rajya Sabha."

According to reports, Mallick, who took oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 6 after being nominated by the Trinamool Congress, did not participate in any proceedings of the House during her brief tenure.

Mallick meets BJP's Bhupender Yadav

Shortly after submitting her resignation, Mallick met Union Minister and senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav at his residence in New Delhi.

The meeting immediately triggered speculation about her next political move.

However, neither Mallick nor the BJP made any official statement regarding the purpose of the meeting or any possible future association.

Another high-profile TMC exit

Mallick has become the fourth Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP to leave the party during its current phase of political turmoil.

Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the Trinamool Congress before joining the BJP.

The BJP subsequently nominated all three leaders for the Rajya Sabha by-elections in West Bengal.

Her resignation also follows the departure of senior TMC leader and former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra, who recently quit the party and joined the rebel Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

TMC's Rajya Sabha strength further reduced

With Mallick's resignation, the Trinamool Congress now has nine members in the Rajya Sabha.

According to reports, the party is also facing challenges in both Houses of Parliament and the West Bengal Assembly.

Reports indicate that several Lok Sabha MPs have aligned with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India while expressing support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Separately, a group of rebel MLAs has claimed to represent the "real" Trinamool Congress.

Award-winning actor entered politics this year

Koel Mallick is among the most recognised actors in the Bengali film industry.

She is the daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick and Deepa Mallick. She married film producer Nispal Singh in 2013, and the couple has a son.

Throughout her acting career, Mallick has received several honours, including a Filmfare Awards Bangla, two Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards, and an Anandalok Puraskar.

In 2023, the West Bengal government conferred upon her the Mahanayak Samman.

Earlier in February, the TMC nominated Koel Mallick along with Babul Supriyo, retired IPS Rajeev Kumar and lawyer Menaka Guruswamy for the Rajya Sabha.

Mallick took the oath as a Rajya Sabha MP on April 6.

Her resignation comes at a politically significant time, with reports suggesting the BJP is seeking to strengthen its numbers in Parliament ahead of a renewed push for key constitutional legislation, including proposals linked to parliamentary delimitation and women's reservation.