Actor Koel Mallick resigns from Rajya Sabha, fourth TMC MP

In a significant political development, actress and Trinamool Congress member Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, resigned from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, 2026, dealing another blow to the embattled party led by Mamata Banerjee. Mallick submitted her resignation letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, requesting its immediate acceptance and expressing gratitude for the support she received during her brief tenure.

Mallick, a prominent figure in the Bengali film industry, was nominated by the Trinamool Congress earlier this year and took her oath as a member of the Upper House on April 6, 2026. Her resignation marks the fourth such departure from the party's Rajya Sabha contingent in recent months, following the exits of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Prakash Chik Baraik, and Sushmita Dev. Those three former MPs have since joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and filed nominations for Rajya Sabha by-elections scheduled for July 24.

The actress has not publicly disclosed her reasons for resigning, and the party has not issued an official statement explaining her decision. However, reports indicate she met with Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav at his official residence...