Popular actor Koel Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, delivering another setback to Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has been grappling with a series of defections and internal dissent. The resignation comes just four months after Koel, a prominent figure in Bengali cinema for more than two decades, was elected to the Upper House on a Trinamool ticket.
The development follows veteran Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra's decision to join the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. Koel's resignation also comes after TMC Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Susmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik stepped down from the Upper House before joining the BJP.
Koel Mallick's Unexpected Resignation
Koel Mallick, the daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections alongside singer-politician Babul Supriyo, former Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy.
Her nomination was widely viewed as the Trinamool Congress's attempt to capitalise on her widespread popularity in West Bengal. Koel, whose birth name is Rukmini, took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP in May, drawing attention for wearing a traditional white saree with a red border and taking the oath in Bengali.
After assuming office, she thanked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for giving her the opportunity to serve the people of West Bengal, describing it on social media as the "beginning of a new journey." However, that journey has ended within just four months.
The actor, who has featured in more than 40 Bengali films, has not disclosed the reason behind her sudden resignation. Notably, her decision comes only four days before the commencement of the Parliament's Monsoon Session.
Another Blow for Mamata Banerjee
Koel Mallick's resignation reduces the Trinamool Congress's strength in the Rajya Sabha from 13 members to just nine. It comes at a time when the party continues to face political setbacks following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections in May.
The crisis has unfolded in multiple phases. Shortly after the elections, 60 of the party's 80 MLAs broke away under the leadership of Ritabrata Banerjee, expressing dissatisfaction with the growing influence of Mamata Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. The Assembly Speaker subsequently recognised Ritabrata as the Leader of the Opposition.
A few days later, 20 Trinamool Lok Sabha MPs, including several long-time associates of Mamata Banerjee, merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and extended support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The resignations of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Susmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik from the Rajya Sabha marked another significant setback for the Trinamool Congress, as all three subsequently joined the BJP following its decisive victory in the West Bengal elections.
