Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominates Bengali actor Koel Mallick for a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal. Multiple reports say Mallick had previously been a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), took oath in April, and later resigned in July after TMC’s defeat in the May assembly election.

Outlets also note that her nomination follows a period of political defection from TMC to BJP involving other Rajya Sabha MPs, which has prompted internal and external criticism. The Hindu reports that a section of BJP leaders debate the idea of “Trinamoolisation of the BJP,” arguing the party is now accommodating figures who opposed BJP before it came to power in West Bengal. Free Press Journal adds that TMC leaders have accused Mallick of “flipping,” while NDTV frames the development as her joining BJP and preparing to contest the Rajya Sabha election.

Regarding process, Free Press Journal cites election and nomination timelines: the last date for filing nominations is October 6, with the election scheduled for October 16 and withdrawals allowed until October 9.