Ex-TMC MP Koel Mallick joins BJP, gets Rajya Sabha ticket

What happened: Former Trinamool Congress MP Koel Mallick joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday, a day after the BJP nominated her for the Rajya Sabha elections. She had quit the TMC and resigned from the Upper House in July. Key numbers: Rajya Sabha election scheduled October 16, result same day. Why it matters: Mallick is expected to be re-elected unopposed based on the Assembly composition. The TMC has faced alleged BJP coercion since losing the May Assembly elections, with defections at both national and state levels.

Former Trinamool Congress MP Koel Mallick joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday, a day after the BJP nominated her for the Rajya Sabha elections. She had quit the TMC and resigned from the Upper House in July.

Mallick is expected to be re-elected unopposed based on the Assembly composition. The TMC has faced alleged BJP coercion since losing the May Assembly elections, with defections at both national and state levels.