Koel Mallick, famed Bengali actress, officially joined the BJP on Monday after the party nominated her for a West Bengal Rajya Sabha seat. Sashi Agnihotri, the party's West Bengal general secretary, announced at the party's state headquarters that she will file her nomination on Monday. Mallick, who has carved a niche in Tollywood with hits like "Kusum" and "Sathi," said she feels honoured to serve at the Upper House and to work for the welfare of Bengal's people.
The actress had earlier served as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP from April 6 to July 16, resigning in the wake of the Trinamool's crushing defeat in the assembly elections. The move followed a brief stint that saw her leave the party amid growing disillusionment. Her departure underscores the political churn that has seen several Bengali celebrities cross party lines in recent months.
At the press conference, Mallick thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for selecting her, adding that she wants to contribute to the BJP government's development initiatives in West Bengal. She said the new dispensation has begun to address the exodus of talent from the state, citing a lack of work as a root cause of social media toxicity. "I have no anger against them," she told reporters, calling the criticism "rude comments from those who feel vexed."
The elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal will be held on October 16. With a clear majority in the West Bengal Assembly, the BJP is poised to secure at least one seat, with Mallick's nomination adding weight to the party's push. Her filing on Monday will formally kick off the campaign, with the next step a vote by the state legislators on the 16th.