Kolkata: The political turbulence surrounding the Trinamool Congress deepened on Thursday as actor-turned-politician Koel Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha, dealing yet another setback to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party just days before the commencement of Parliament's Monsoon Session. Koel Mallick, who had taken oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 6, submitted her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, seeking its immediate acceptance. In her brief resignation letter, she wrote:
"I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect."
The development comes at a politically crucial juncture, with the Monsoon Session of Parliament scheduled to begin on July 20, raising fresh questions over the Trinamool Congress' strength and strategy in the Upper House.
Koel Mallick's resignation marks the latest in a series of exits that have dented the party's parliamentary presence. Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev, and Prakash Chik Baraik resigned from the Rajya Sabha and subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On Monday, the three leaders filed their nomination papers as BJP candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in West Bengal, signalling a significant political realignment.
The latest resignation is expected to intensify speculation over internal developments within the Trinamool Congress and could provide fresh ammunition to the BJP as political rivalry between the two parties sharpens ahead of key electoral battles. With multiple high-profile departures in recent weeks, the Trinamool leadership now faces the challenge of maintaining its numerical strength in the Rajya Sabha while countering the BJP's growing influence in West Bengal's political landscape.
Political observers believe the resignation of a prominent public figure like Koel Mallick, coming immediately before Parliament reconvenes, is likely to trigger renewed debate over the evolving equations within West Bengal politics and the balance of power in the Upper House.
