Former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Rukmini Mallick, better known by her screen name Koel, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, a day after it nominated her as its Rajya Sabha candidate from West Bengal for the October 16 by-election, months after quitting the Upper House seat of Parliament in July.
Earlier reporting noted: Welcoming Koel Mallick into the BJP fold, the party’s West Bengal general secretary Sashi Agnihotri said the actor will file her nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat on Monday. “I always wanted to serve the nation in my capacity as an individual. I do not want to belittle any party. Mallick is set to be re-elected unopposed as there is no other candidate in the fray. We cannot comment on her decision. Every politician has the right to take a stand. “They work for their party but never get rewarded. Mallick resigned from the Upper House four months after she was elected in March. She did not attend any Parliament session. With her exit, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction’s strength in the Rajya Sabha came down to nine. She resigned after the Mamata Banerjee-led party’s electoral debacle in the assembly elections.
Because of its achievements, she said she joined the BJP. Because i think I will get the opportunity to serve the people,” she said when asked about criticism over switching sides, i have joined the BJP. Mallick resigned as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member after the BJP swept to power for the first time in West Bengal, winning 208 of 294 assembly seats. Earlier reporting noted: The daughter of veteran Bengali film actor Ranjit Mallick had a short stint as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP from April 6 to July 16.
Prasun Banerjee, an assembly member of the rebel Democratic Trinamool Congress, said, “Koel Mallick said she joined the BJP to serve the people. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Shatarup Ghosh said they feel sorry for BJP workers and leaders. The BJP leadership keeps sending TMC leaders to the Parliament,” said Ghosh. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said a lot of people from other parties are eager to join the BJP as well. Earlier reporting noted: “It would be an honour for me to become a member of the Upper House of Parliament and get a chance to work for the welfare of the people,” Mallick told a press conference at the BJP state headquarters here.
