Sushmita Dev, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP, has resigned from her seat in the upper house and quit the party.
Dev's departure signals potential instability within the TMC's legislative ranks and highlights ongoing shifts in regional political alliances in India. Her exit comes amid widespread speculation regarding a possible move to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking on her decision, Dev said the reasons behind her departure are a "very long story" and noted that in politics, not everything needs to be revealed. She said that she did not want to be in a situation where she was "in two boats" and emphasized that she has never stayed in one party while serving another.
Dev is the second party MP to resign this week [1]. She originally joined the TMC in 2021 [2] after previously serving as a leader within the Congress party.
When questioned about her relationship with party leadership, Dev avoided making remarks regarding Mamata Banerjee. She said that the decision to leave was her own and was personal in nature.
"I do not want to be in two boats at the same time," Dev said [3].
“"I don't want to be in a situation where I am in two boats."”
The resignation of a high-profile member like Sushmita Dev, who transitioned from Congress to TMC and may now be eyeing the BJP, reflects the fluid nature of party loyalty in Indian politics. By resigning from the Rajya Sabha entirely rather than simply switching parties, Dev avoids certain legal or ethical complications associated with party-hopping, while the loss of a second MP in one week suggests internal friction or a strategic realignment within the TMC.
