The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Koel Mallick as its candidate for the by-election to the West Bengal seat she vacated after resigning from the Upper House in July. The BJPs central leadership announced her name on Sunday, October 4.
Mallick, whose full name is Rukmini Mallick, resigned as a TMC Rajya Sabha member on July 16 after being elected to the Upper House on the partys ticket earlier this year. She formally submitted her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan.
The Election Commission has scheduled the by-election for October 16. The poll was necessitated by Mallicks resignation, leaving the West Bengal Rajya Sabha seat vacant.
There had been speculation that the BJP might nominate Mallick for the same seat after three other former TMC Rajya Sabha MPsSukhendu Sekhar Ray, Sushmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraikleft the TMC and later joined the BJP. The three were subsequently fielded by the BJP in Rajya Sabha by-elections.
Mallicks resignation had also drawn attention after she met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in Delhi shortly after stepping down. The meeting fuelled speculation about her political future and a possible move to the BJP.
According to the announcement issued from the BJPs central office at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg in Delhi on Sunday, Mallick will now contest the by-election on the BJP ticket.
Earlier this year, the TMC had nominated Mallick along with former West Bengal Police director general Rajeev Kumar, former state minister Babul Supriyo and Supreme Court lawyer Menaka Guruswamy as its Rajya Sabha candidates.
Voting for the Rajya Sabha election took place in March, and Mallick took oath as a member on April 6. She did not attend any parliamentary session before resigning from the Rajya Sabha on July 16, shortly before the Monsoon Session began.
