Popular Bengali actor Koel Mallick resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, further denting the parliamentary strength of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC). Soon after stepping down, she met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav at his residence in Delhi, triggering speculation over her political future.
Koel had entered the Upper House only four months ago after being elected to the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamool ticket. Her resignation comes amid a wave of defections and internal dissent that has continued to unsettle the party in recent months.
The latest setback for the TMC follows Wednesday's decision by veteran party MLA Madan Mitra, a long-time confidant of Mamata Banerjee, to join the rebel Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee. Koel's departure also follows the resignations of Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Susmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik, all of whom later joined the BJP.
The daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick, Koel was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in March alongside singer-politician Babul Supriyo, former Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Widely recognised as one of Bengali cinema's leading stars for more than two decades, Koel's nomination was seen as part of the Trinamool's strategy to capitalise on her popularity in the state. She took oath as a Rajya Sabha member in May, drawing attention by wearing a traditional white saree with a red border and taking the oath in Bangla.
After being sworn in, Koel had expressed gratitude to Mamata Banerjee for the opportunity to represent the people of West Bengal. "Beginning of a new journey," she had posted on social media. The journey, however, proved to be short.
Despite the sudden resignation, the actor, who has featured in more than 40 films, has not disclosed the reason behind her decision. The move assumes added significance as it comes just four days before the start of the Parliament's Monsoon session.
Her exit brings the Trinamool's strength in the Rajya Sabha down to nine from 13, adding to the party's troubles following its setback in the West Bengal Assembly elections in May.
The political crisis within the TMC unfolded in three phases. In the weeks after the election, 60 of the party's 80 MLAs broke away under Ritabrata Banerjee's leadership, expressing dissatisfaction with the influence of Mamata Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. The Assembly Speaker subsequently recognised Ritabrata as the Leader of the Opposition.
That was followed by the defection of 20 Lok Sabha MPs, several of them long associated with Mamata Banerjee, who merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and extended support to the BJP-led NDA.
The resignations of the three Rajya Sabha MPs came separately and marked the BJP's first induction of former Trinamool leaders after its emphatic victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
