Sushmita Dev, a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has resigned from her parliamentary seat and all party posts [1].

The departure signals deepening instability within the TMC following the party's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Dev is the second Rajya Sabha MP to resign from the TMC this week [3], and the second high-profile exit from the party within the same timeframe [3].

Dev announced her resignation in New Delhi. Shortly after leaving the party, she met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the capital [1, 4]. While the meeting has sparked speculation regarding her political future, reports vary on her next steps. Some media outlets said she may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [1, 5], while other reports focused on the resignation and the meeting with Sarma without confirming a party switch [4].

This wave of exits follows a period of internal rift within the TMC. The party has seen a series of high-profile departures as leadership struggles to navigate the aftermath of its recent electoral losses in West Bengal [4, 2].

Additional reports suggest that other members may be following suit. Saayoni Ghosh has reportedly backed the rebel camp, further intensifying the turmoil within the party's ranks [2].

“Sushmita Dev, a Rajya Sabha MP for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has resigned from her parliamentary seat and all party posts.”

The resignation of Sushmita Dev reflects a broader trend of attrition within the Trinamool Congress. By vacating her seat and meeting with a high-ranking BJP official, Dev highlights the fragility of the TMC's current coalition and the potential for a strategic shift in the political landscape of West Bengal and Assam.