Bengali actor Koel Mallick has been named the BJP's candidate for an upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election, according to bdnews24.com. The announcement was reported on Monday, 5 October 2026.
Mallick's move to the BJP drew a sharp response from Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, who called her a "traitor," bdnews24.com reports. Other Bengali outlets, including Anandabazar.com and ABP Ananda, also carried the news, with Anandabazar.com noting that opposition parties mocked the announcement while the BJP appeared unmoved.
According to ABP Ananda, Mallick had previously won an election on a Trinamool Congress ticket before resigning. News18 Bengali reported that she has since spoken about her old party and former colleagues, and mentioned that Abhishek Banerjee had visited her home.
The by-election is for a Rajya Sabha seat, though the reporting available does not specify the vacancy or the voting date. The Daily Ittefaq also reported Mallick's selection as the BJP's nominee.
What to watch next: whether Mallick's candidacy is formally confirmed and how the by-election contest develops.
