BJP Nominates Koel Mallick for West Bengal Rajya Sabha Seat

The Bharatiya Janata Party nominated actor Koyel Mallick, also known as Koel Mallick, as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal. Mallick officially joined the party on October 5, 2026, and submitted her nomination at the BJP state headquarters alongside West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and state president Samik Bhattacharya.

Mallick previously served as a member of the Upper House for the All India Trinamool Congress, taking her oath on April 6, 2026. She resigned on July 16 without attending a single session following a TMC setback in state assembly polls. Upon joining the BJP, Mallick expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Suvendu Adhikari, stating her desire to contribute to the party's development initiatives in West Bengal.

In addition to the West Bengal seat, the BJP named Dinesh Arya as its candidate for a biennial election in Uttarakhand. The broader election cycle scheduled for October 16 includes 12 Rajya Sabha seats, with 10 located in Uttar Pradesh. Nominations for these seats close on October 6, with withdrawals permitted until October 9.