It is betrayal: Mamata TMC slams Koel Mallick over BJP Rajya Sabha ticket

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh on Sunday accused actor-turned-politician and former party MP Koel Mallick of "betrayal" after the BJP named her as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in West Bengal.

The by-election was necessitated by Mallick's resignation as a TMC MP from the Upper House in July after the Mamata Banerjee-led party was ousted from power in the state.

The bypoll will be on October 16, and Mallick appears set to return to the Rajya Sabha as the BJP has a clear majority in the 294-member state assembly.

Ghosh questioned Banerjee's earlier decision to consider Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, for a Rajya Sabha seat.

"Koel Mallick is a renowned actor. Mamata Banerjee had chosen her to send to the Rajya Sabha. When Mamata Banerjee was chief minister, you (Koel Mallick) liked the TMC. Now she is no longer the chief minister; you joined the BJP. It is betrayal," he said.

Ghosh said Banerjee's approach had been to give people from different sections of society an opportunity to serve as elected representatives. He said the Trinamool Congress had nominated doctors, sportspersons, singers and film personalities for elections.

"Mamata Banerjee's approach was based on goodwill and the idea of bringing prominent people from society into politics and giving them opportunities to represent people in the state assembly, Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha," the TMC MLA said.

He added that the actions of some individuals had made the party rethink such an approach.

The BJP, however, defended Mallick's candidature. "No corruption complaint was filed against Koel Mallick. There is nothing wrong if she gets a BJP ticket," party MP Rahul Sinha said.

State Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul also welcomed the development, saying, "I hope she will speak for the people of Bengal and give her full time in the Rajya Sabha."

Mallick's resignation had followed the stepping down of Rajya Sabha MPs Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Deb and Prakash Chik Baraik after the TMC's poll debacle in Bengal and the subsequent widespread rebellion in its ranks.

The three later joined the BJP and were re-elected to the Upper House as its nominees. The latest bypoll has now brought Mallick's political shift into focus, with the TMC attacking her move and the BJP backing her nomination.- Ends