The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as actor Koel Mallick, from West Bengal and Dinesh Arya from Uttarakhand as its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
The BJP said the two names were approved by its Central Election Committee ahead of voting scheduled for October 16.
Rajya Sabha Polls on October 16
Elections are scheduled for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
Of these, 10 seats are from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand, where the terms of the sitting members will end on November 25. A by-election will also be held for one vacant Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal.
Polling and counting are scheduled to take place on October 16.
Dinesh Arya Fielded From Uttarakhand
In Uttarakhand, the BJP has nominated Dinesh Arya for the Rajya Sabha seat currently held by party MP Naresh Bansal.
Bansal’s term is due to end on November 25.
Arya is a BJP leader from Haldwani and has held organisational responsibilities within the party. His candidature comes as the BJP prepares to retain the Uttarakhand seat, where it has a strong majority in the 70-member Assembly.
Koel Mallick Returns as BJP Candidate in Bengal
The BJP has fielded Rukmini Mallick, better known as Koel Mallick, for the Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal.
The Bengali actor had earlier entered the Rajya Sabha as a Trinamool Congress member but resigned from the Upper House on July 16, 2026 after parting ways with the TMC.
Her resignation created the vacancy for which the October 16 by-election is being held.
Mallick subsequently joined the BJP, which has now nominated her for the same Rajya Sabha seat on its ticket.
BJP Holds Clear Majority in West Bengal Assembly
Mallick enters the contest with the BJP holding a comfortable majority in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly following the 2026 state elections.
The BJP won 207 seats in the Assembly election, well above the majority mark of 148, while the TMC finished with 80 seats.
Since Rajya Sabha members representing states are elected by elected MLAs, the BJP’s Assembly strength puts Mallick in a strong numerical position for the bypoll.
BJP Finalises Two Key Candidates
The announcement gives the BJP its candidates for the Uttarakhand biennial election and the West Bengal by-election, while attention is also on the 10 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh that will go to polls on the same day.
The outcome of the October 16 elections will determine representation from the three states in the Upper House as the terms of several sitting MPs come to an end.
