Sushmita Dev, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP, resigned from her party and her seat in the upper house on June 10, 2024 [2].
Dev's departure marks a significant blow to the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, as it signals increasing internal turmoil and a trend of defections within the party. The move is particularly notable given the timing of current political shifts in the region.
In her formal resignation letter, Dev said, "I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect" [3]. The 53-year-old lawmaker submitted her resignation to the Rajya Sabha Chairman in New Delhi [1, 4].
Dev said that her decision stemmed from a conflict between her personal stance and party loyalty. "I don't want to be in two boats at the same time," Dev said [5].
Following her resignation, Dev met with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma [4]. While the specific location of the meeting was not detailed, reports indicated it took place in New Delhi. The meeting has sparked speculation regarding a potential move toward the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [4].
This resignation is the second instance of a TMC Rajya Sabha MP quitting the party this week [1]. The sequence of events reflects a period of instability for the TMC as it faces mounting pressure from opposing political factions.
“"I don't want to be in two boats at the same time..."”
The resignation of Sushmita Dev and her immediate meeting with a high-ranking BJP official suggest a strategic realignment of political power in Assam. By exiting the TMC during a wave of internal defections, Dev's move weakens the party's presence in the upper house and highlights a growing vulnerability in the TMC's ability to retain its legislators amidst shifting regional alliances.
