Sushmita Dev resigned from the Rajya Sabha and left the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on June 10, 2024 [3].

Dev's departure marks a significant blow to the TMC's stability, as she was the second party member to resign as a member of parliament this week [1]. Her exit follows a period of internal party tension and precedes a high-profile meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Speaking on her departure, Dev said that the reasons for her decision were a long story and that not everything in politics needs to be revealed. She said that she did not want to be in a situation where she was in two boats at the same time [2].

"I have never stayed in a party and served another," Dev said. "The decision is my own."

Dev joined the TMC in 2021 [2]. Despite her previous affiliation with the party, she used her exit to target TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee. She referred to him as "bechara" Kalyan Banerjee, a term often used to describe someone as pitiful or helpless [2].

While she addressed the nature of her resignation, Dev avoided making direct remarks regarding TMC leader Mamata Banerjee. She said that her decision was personal and not driven by specific party politics [2].

Following her resignation, Dev traveled to Assam to meet with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. This meeting has drawn attention as a potential signal of her future political alignment after leaving the TMC [1].

“"I don't want to be in a situation where I am in two boats."”

The resignation of Sushmita Dev, occurring alongside another MP's departure in a single week, suggests growing instability within the Trinamool Congress. By explicitly stating she refused to serve a party while remaining in 'two boats,' Dev indicates a fundamental break in trust. Her immediate meeting with a high-ranking official from a different political camp suggests her exit is not a retirement from politics, but a strategic shift in allegiance.