Sushmita Dev, a Rajya Sabha MP and member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has resigned from the party and vacated her parliamentary seat [1, 2].
This exit signals deepening instability within the TMC as the party faces a growing internal rebellion. The loss of a high-profile member of the Upper House weakens the party's legislative presence and suggests a potential shift in political allegiances in the region.
Dev's resignation marks the second time a TMC leader has quit the party within a single week [3]. This follows the departure of Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, which occurred days earlier [4]. These back-to-back jolts for party leader Mamata Banerjee highlight a period of significant turmoil for the organization [4].
Following her resignation, Dev traveled to Assam to meet with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma [2]. While no formal announcement has been made regarding her next political move, the meeting has led to speculation that Dev may shift her allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [1, 2].
Internal friction has plagued the TMC as multiple leaders have recently distanced themselves from the party leadership. The resignation of a Rajya Sabha member is particularly impactful because it removes a direct voice for the party in the national legislature, a blow that comes amid a broader trend of party defections [1, 2].
“Sushmita Dev is the second TMC leader to quit within a week”
The resignation of Sushmita Dev indicates a precarious moment for the Trinamool Congress, as the loss of senior leadership to potential rivals like the BJP could erode the party's influence in both Assam and the national parliament. This pattern of exits suggests that internal dissent is no longer isolated, but may be part of a larger strategic migration of leaders toward the ruling coalition.
