Sushmita Dev, a former Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), resigned from her position on June 10, 2024 [1].
The departure marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Assam and West Bengal. Dev's exit comes amid internal turmoil within the TMC and suggests a potential realignment of regional power if she joins the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Following her resignation, Dev met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The meeting has sparked widespread speculation that she may be preparing to enter the BJP, though no official announcement of a party switch has been made.
When asked about the reasons for her exit from the TMC, Dev avoided direct remarks regarding party leader Mamata Banerjee. She said the situation was a "long story" [2].
Dev said she did not want to be "in two boats at the same time" [2]. This statement suggests a desire for clarity in her political affiliation during a period of instability within her former party.
Her resignation on June 10, 2024 [1], leaves the TMC facing further challenges in maintaining its influence in the region. The timing of the move, occurring alongside high-level meetings with BJP leadership, indicates a strategic pivot in her political career.
“I did not want to be "in two boats at the same time".”
The resignation of Sushmita Dev represents a potential blow to the Trinamool Congress's stability and its efforts to maintain a foothold in the northeast. By meeting with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Dev is signaling a move toward the BJP, which would further consolidate the BJP's dominance in Assam while stripping the TMC of a high-profile representative in the upper house.
