Kolkata: Actor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Koel Mallick resigned from the Upper House on Thursday, becoming the latest parliamentarian to leave the party during a period of intense political churn in West Bengal.

Mallick personally submitted her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, formally ending a tenure that lasted only a few months and during which she did not participate in any parliamentary proceedings.

Her exit further weakens the TMC's presence in the Rajya Sabha, with the party's strength now slipping into single digits.

In her resignation letter, Mallick requested that her resignation be accepted with immediate effect.

She also thanked the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and its officials for the support extended during her brief tenure as a member of Parliament.

Although she has not publicly disclosed the reason behind stepping down, the timing of her resignation comes amid a series of exits from the TMC's parliamentary ranks.

Fourth Rajya Sabha resignation in a week

Mallick's resignation follows those of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Sushmita Deb and Prakash Chik Baraik, all of whom stepped down after the TMC's electoral defeat in West Bengal.

The three former MPs have since aligned themselves with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and filed nominations for the Rajya Sabha by-elections from the seats they vacated. If their nominations remain uncontested, they are expected to return to Parliament as BJP members.

Soon after resigning, Koel Mallick met senior BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav at his Delhi residence, a move that immediately triggered speculation about her political future.

Neither Mallick nor the BJP has officially commented on the meeting, but it has intensified rumours that the actor could join the saffron party or align herself with the growing group of former TMC leaders.

Koel Mallick's short political journey

One of Bengal's most recognised film stars, Koel Mallick entered active politics only weeks before being nominated to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year.

The daughter of veteran actor Ranjit Mallick, she was selected by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as one of the party's prominent faces for the Upper House.

After filing her nomination, Mallick had described public service as a responsibility she wished to undertake and sought the blessings of people as she entered politics.

Despite taking oath as an MP, she did not attend a single sitting of Parliament and was expected to make her parliamentary debut during the Monsoon Session beginning on July 20.

Fresh challenge for Mamata Banerjee-led TMC

Mallick's resignation comes against the backdrop of an expanding internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress.

The party has witnessed a string of defections in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha following its loss of power in West Bengal. Several senior leaders and MPs have distanced themselves from the party, while rival factions continue to challenge the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.

The latest resignation is expected to add to concerns over the party's organisational stability and parliamentary numbers as the Monsoon Session approaches.

With PTI inputs