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Sushmita Dev met Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after quitting as Rajya Sabha MP and is expected to return to the Rajya Sabha as a BJP nominee.
Sushmita Dev meeting Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi.
The Trinamool Congress suffered another political setback on Wednesday after Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev quit party and resigned from the Upper House citing both personal and political reasons. She is the second MP to resign in a week after Sukhendu Shekhar Ray.
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Speaking after her resignation, Sushmita Dev said she did not want to remain in a position where she was “on two boats” at the same time. She added that she was not aware of the actions of others and described herself as “independent” for now.
Seeking time before making any political decision, Dev said she would like to remain on a short sabbatical. “I need some time to think. Assam is my state, and I need to do some thinking,” she said, indicating that she is weighing her next political move.
Dev will meet Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan and submitted her resignation today at 1 pm.
Speaking to CNN, Saugata Roy said that Sushmita Dev’s resignation is “shock” to the party.
Sources said Sushmita Dev is set to join the BJP and is expected to return to the Rajya Sabha as a BJP nominee. She reportedly met Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after finalising her move.
According to sources, Dev has already submitted her resignation and apologised to West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee before stepping down. Sources further indicated that Dev felt it was no longer possible for her to pursue Assam politics either through the Trinamool Congress or the Congress. It has now been decided that she will re-enter the Rajya Sabha after joining the BJP.
Her exit comes amid growing unrest within the party and days after a large group of Trinamool MPs reportedly extended support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Rebel faction claims support of 20 MPs
The latest development follows claims made by rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who on Monday said that nearly 20 party MPs had sought to align with the NDA.
According to Dastidar, a letter regarding the move was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Dastidar is leading the breakaway faction and has been appointed its chief whip. Senior MP Satabdi Roy has been named deputy leader of the dissident group. The rebel camp’s claims have intensified speculation about the scale of the crisis within the Trinamool Congress.
Turbulence in Delhi
The political uncertainty has also been reflected in developments in New Delhi.
Amid the ongoing turmoil, Trinamool Congress MP Partha Bhowmick on Tuesday formally shifted out of the government bungalow that had been functioning as the party’s operational base in the national capital.
According to sources, Bhowmick himself had requested to be moved from the accommodation.
The move added to signs of growing organisational disruption within the party as tensions between the leadership and rebel MPs continue to escalate.
TMC leadership hits back
The Trinamool Congress leadership has responded sharply to the rebellion.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, senior party leader Kalyan Banerjee criticised the conduct of the dissident group led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.
Banerjee said leaders who were unhappy with the party should resign rather than continue to hold positions while publicly opposing the organisation.
He argued that if any leader no longer wished to remain associated with the Trinamool Congress or had serious differences with the party, the ethical course of action was to step down.
The remarks came a day after the rebel camp claimed that at least 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs had decided to support the NDA.
With Sushmita Dev’s resignation, the crisis within the Trinamool Congress appears to have deepened further, adding to the challenges facing the Mamata Banerjee-led party as dissent continues to emerge from within its parliamentary ranks.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
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