BJP Names Dinesh Arya, Rukmini ‘Koel’ Mallick as Rajya Sabha Candidates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in conversation with BJP National President Nitin Nabin. The BJP on Sunday announced its candidates for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha contests in Uttarakhand and West Bengal. (File Photo)

Arya fielded from Uttarakhand for the biennial election, while Bengali actor-turned-politician Koel Mallick will contest the West Bengal by-election; polling scheduled for October 16

Key Highlights

• BJP announces candidates for Rajya Sabha contests in Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
• Dinesh Arya named the party’s candidate from Uttarakhand.
• Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, fielded from West Bengal.
• Arya is currently Vice-Chairman of Uttarakhand’s State-Level Drinking Water Monitoring Council.
• The West Bengal by-election follows Mallick’s resignation from the Rajya Sabha in July.
• Voting is scheduled for October 16, 2026.

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday, October 4, 2026 announced Dinesh Arya and Rukmini Mallick, popularly known as Koel Mallick, as its candidates for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha contests in Uttarakhand and West Bengal respectively.

The names were approved by the BJP’s Central Election Committee. Arya will contest the biennial election from Uttarakhand, while Mallick has been chosen for the Rajya Sabha by-election in West Bengal. The announcement was confirmed by public broadcaster Akashvani News.

Dinesh Arya Gets Uttarakhand Nomination

Arya is a long-time BJP leader from Nainital and has previously served as the party’s Nainital district president. He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the State-Level Drinking Water Monitoring Council, a position carrying the status of Minister of State.

The Uttarakhand election is being held as sitting Rajya Sabha member Naresh Bansal’s term is due to end on November 25, 2026. Polling and counting are scheduled for October 16.

Koel Mallick Fielded in West Bengal

In West Bengal, the BJP has chosen Rukmini Mallick, better known as Bengali actor Koel Mallick, for the by-election.

Mallick had earlier entered the Rajya Sabha on a Trinamool Congress ticket. She resigned from the Upper House on July 16, creating the vacancy for which the by-election is now being held. She subsequently joined the BJP.

Her selection makes the West Bengal contest particularly noteworthy, as she is now seeking to return to the same House as a candidate of a different political party.

The two nominations form part of the BJP’s preparations for the October Rajya Sabha elections, with the party opting for an organisational leader in Uttarakhand and a prominent public figure in West Bengal.