Sushmita Dev, a Trinamool Congress MP and former Congress leader, has resigned from her party and her seat in the Rajya Sabha [1].
Dev's departure marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Assam, where she intends to focus her future efforts. Her exit follows a trend of instability within the party's upper house representation, as she is the second party MP to resign this week [3].
Dev said the decision was based on a combination of personal and political reasons [3]. She said she did not want to be in a position where she was serving one party while remaining a member of another [1].
"What prompted me to take this decision is a very long story, and in politics not everything needs to be revealed," Dev said. "I don't want to be in a situation where I am in two boats. I have never stayed in a party and served another. The decision is my own" [1].
While Dev has expressed a desire to return to work in Assam, her future political affiliation remains a subject of debate [2]. Some reports suggest she may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon [2], though other accounts indicate she has not yet confirmed her next move [3].
Dev previously served as a leader within the Congress party before joining the Trinamool Congress. Her decision to vacate her seat in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament, removes her from national legislative duties to prioritize regional activities [1, 2].
“I don't want to be in a situation where I am in two boats.”
Dev's resignation signals a potential realignment of political influence in Assam. By vacating a national seat to focus on regional work, she positions herself as a free agent in a state where the BJP holds significant power, making her a strategic target for recruitment or a potential independent disruptor in local politics.
