Bengali actress Koyel Mallick is trending after a major political development. The popular actor, whose real name is Rukmini Mallick, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on October 5, 2026, a day after the party announced her as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll in West Bengal. She also filed her nomination for the seat on Monday.
The development has attracted attention because Mallick had herself entered Parliament earlier this year as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member before resigning from the Upper House in July..
Why Is Koyel Mallick Trending?
The sudden spike in searches around Koyel Mallick is largely linked to her political switch.
The BJP announced her candidature for the West Bengal Rajya Sabha by-election on October 4. The following day, she joined the party at its state headquarters in Kolkata and proceeded to file her nomination..Her move has drawn attention because she had been associated with the TMC only months earlier.
From Bengali Cinema to Parliament
Koyel Mallick is a well-known face in Bengali cinema and is the daughter of veteran Bengali actor Ranjit Mallick..Her political journey began in 2026 when the TMC nominated her for the Rajya Sabha. She took oath as a member of the Upper House on April 6, 2026.
However, her tenure was short. She resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, 2026, following the political developments after the West Bengal Assembly election.
Now, only a few months after leaving the Upper House, she has been nominated again for a Rajya Sabha seat — this time by the BJP.
What Happened on October 5?
On Monday, Koyel Mallick formally joined the BJP in Kolkata.
Later the same day, she submitted her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha bypoll. She was accompanied by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and other party leaders..Speaking after joining the BJP, Mallick said she considered the opportunity to serve in the Upper House an honour and expressed her intention to work for the welfare of people in West Bengal.
Why Did She Leave TMC?
Her exit from the TMC has become a major part of the current discussion around her.
Mallick had resigned as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP in July. When asked about her decision to move to the BJP, she said the two parties have different ideologies and that she had no anger towards her former party..TMC leaders have criticised her decision, while BJP leaders have defended her candidature. These are political positions from the respective parties and remain part of the ongoing political debate.
When Is the Rajya Sabha Bypoll?
The West Bengal Rajya Sabha bypoll is scheduled for October 16, 2026.
The election is being held after Mallick's resignation created a vacancy in the Upper House. The current political arithmetic in the West Bengal Assembly has also made her candidature a major talking point.
Who Is Koyel Mallick?
Koyel Mallick is one of the recognised names of Bengali cinema and has worked in the Bengali film industry for many years..She comes from a film family, with her father Ranjit Mallick being a veteran Bengali actor. Her transition from cinema to active politics in 2026 brought her into national attention..Her political journey has now taken another turn, with her return to the Rajya Sabha contest on a BJP ticket just months after her earlier stint as a TMC MP.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on the October 16 Rajya Sabha bypoll and the formal election process..For Koyel Mallick, the development marks another major transition — from Bengali cinema to Parliament, then from one political party to another and now back into the Rajya Sabha electoral race..Her latest political move is the reason her name has suddenly become a major search trend across India.
