Sushmita Dev Resigns from Rajya Sabha, Delivering Another Setback to Trinamool Congress

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sushmita Dev resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, becoming the second party MP to step down from the Upper House within a matter of days. The development has intensified speculation about internal unrest within the Mamata Banerjee-led party ahead of crucial political battles in the coming months.
Dev submitted her resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, bringing an end to her tenure in the Upper House. In her resignation letter, she thanked the Chairman and the Rajya Sabha Secretariat for their support and cooperation during her time as a Member of Parliament.
Her exit comes shortly after senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from both the Rajya Sabha and the party, raising questions about dissatisfaction among some leaders within the organisation. The back-to-back resignations have triggered political discussions over the Trinamool Congress’s internal dynamics and future strategy.
A former Congress leader, Dev joined the TMC in 2021 as the party sought to strengthen its presence in the Northeast. She had previously served as a Lok Sabha MP from Assam’s Silchar constituency and also held the position of president of the All India Mahila Congress. Within the TMC, she emerged as one of the party’s prominent faces outside West Bengal.
While Dev did not publicly elaborate on the reasons behind her decision, reports suggested that she indicated an unwillingness to remain associated with conflicting political interests. Her reported meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in New Delhi further fuelled speculation about her next political move, although no official announcement has been made regarding her future plans.
The Trinamool Congress leadership has yet to issue a detailed response to Dev’s resignation. However, the departure of two Rajya Sabha MPs in quick succession is likely to pose fresh challenges for the party as it attempts to maintain organisational cohesion and counter mounting political pressure.