Koel Mallick Quits Rajya Sabha, Deepening TMC's Political Turmoil Amid Wave of Resignations
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) suffered another political setback on Thursday after actor-turned-politician Koel Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha, just four months after entering Parliament. Her departure adds to the growing list of leaders leaving the party as it continues to grapple with internal unrest following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Koel Mallick, one of Bengal's most recognised film stars with a career spanning over two decades, had been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the TMC earlier this year. Her selection was seen as part of the party's strategy to bring influential public figures into national politics ahead of the state elections.
Her resignation comes only a day after senior TMC leader and MLA Madan Mitra left Mamata Banerjee's camp to join the rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, signalling that the political churn within the party is far from over.
Koel's exit also follows the resignations of former TMC Rajya Sabha members Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Susmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik, all of whom later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), further reducing the party's presence in the Upper House.
The daughter of veteran Bengali actor Ranjit Mallick, Koel was nominated to the Rajya Sabha alongside singer-politician Babul Supriyo, former West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy. Political observers had viewed her nomination as an effort by the TMC leadership to capitalise on her widespread popularity and connect with younger and urban voters.
With another prominent face exiting the party, the Trinamool Congress is facing increasing pressure to contain internal dissent as questions continue to be raised over its organisational stability and parliamentary strength. While the party has not yet issued a detailed statement on Koel Mallick's resignation, her departure marks another significant development in the ongoing political reshuffle within West Bengal.
