Koel Mallick Resigns From Rajya Sabha Three Months After Nomination

Actress-turned-politician Koel Mallick, officially known as Rukmini Mallick, has resigned from the Rajya Sabha just three months after entering the Upper House. Her resignation makes her the fourth Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP to step down since June, following the party’s heavy defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.

Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik also resigned from the Rajya Sabha. All three later joined the BJP and secured nominations for the bypolls scheduled for the seats they vacated later this month.

Mallick’s resignation has triggered fresh political speculation in West Bengal.

Soon after submitting her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, Koel Mallick was seen at the residence of Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav, fuelling discussions about her political future.

Reports said Mallick first emailed her resignation to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. She later appeared before the Chairperson in person and formally submitted the letter, as required under parliamentary rules.

Koel Mallick’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha in February had surprised many political observers.

The Trinamool Congress had fielded four candidates, including former West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, singer-turned-politician and former Union Minister Babul Supriyo, Supreme Court senior advocate Dr Menaka Guruswamy, and Mallick. All four secured unopposed victories.

Despite becoming a Rajya Sabha member, Koel Mallick did not attend a single parliamentary session. She actively campaigned across West Bengal for Trinamool candidates during the Assembly elections.

Koel Mallick is the daughter of veteran Bengali film actor Ranjit Mallick, one of the most celebrated personalities in the Bengali film industry.

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