Sushmita Dev resigned from the Trinamool Congress and her Rajya Sabha seat on June 10, 2024 [1].
Dev's departure represents a significant blow to the party's stability in New Delhi. Her exit follows a pattern of internal friction within the Trinamool Congress, occurring as the second resignation of a party leader within a single week [3].
Dev, a former Rajya Sabha MP, said that her decision was based on an inability to maintain conflicting positions. "I cannot be in two boats," Dev said [1].
The resignation took place in New Delhi [2]. By relinquishing both her party membership and her seat in the upper house of Parliament, Dev has effectively severed her formal ties with the organization led by Mamata Banerjee.
Political observers have noted that this move creates a vacuum in the party's representation and signals potential instability. The timing of the exit, coming shortly after another leader left the party, suggests a growing trend of dissent within the ranks [3].
While Dev did not explicitly name a new political affiliation in her resignation statement, the move has triggered widespread speculation regarding her future. The decision to resign from the Rajya Sabha specifically prevents her from holding the seat while affiliated with a different political entity.
“"I cannot be in two boats."”
The departure of Sushmita Dev underscores a period of volatility for the Trinamool Congress. By resigning from the Rajya Sabha rather than simply switching parties, Dev avoids the legal complexities of seat retention while signaling a complete break from the party's current direction. This trend of high-profile exits may weaken the party's legislative influence and embolden other dissident members to seek alternative political alignments.
