Noted Bengali actor Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, joined the BJP on Monday, a day after the party nominated her to the Rajya Sabha. Mallick filed her nomination papers at the West Bengal Assembly.
“The way development work has begun in West Bengal over the last few months, I am happy as a citizen of the state. We all want development in the state,” Mallick said after joining the BJP.
The actress said she entered politics with a desire to work for the people. “The reason I got into politics is the same reason I am here today. If I can make a difference to some people, I will be happy,” she said.
Earlier, Mallick had a short stint as a TMC Rajya Sabha MP from April 6 to July 16. Asked about the negative comments directed at her for leaving the TMC and joining the BJP, Mallick said she did not want to speak badly about anyone and had never done so in her years as an actor.
“It is my decision, and I would like to go with that. I don’t want to speak badly about anyone, and I have never done so till today,” she said. “Every party has worked to do their best. Each has its own path.”
Bypolls to 11 Rajya Sabha seats for West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are set to take place on October 16. The last date for filing nominations is October 6, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 9.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction reacted to Mallick’s nomination, saying that the actress had not done justice to the party’s prestige.
“When Didi (Mamata Banerjee) was the Chief Minister, they lived Trinamool, and when the BJP is in office, they lean towards them,” said MLA Kunal Ghosh, claiming that it was Mamata Banerjee who brought the actress and her father, Ranjit Mallick, into politics.
Earlier, TMC RS MPs Sukhendu Shekhar Roy, Susmita Dev and Prakash Chik Baraik had quit TMC in June and joined BJP. The trio, however, retained the RS seats.
