Desk | Kolkata

In a significant political development, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sushmita Dev resigned from the Upper House on Wednesday, delivering another setback to the party led by Mamata Banerjee. The resignation comes amid growing turmoil within the party and follows the recent departure of senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who also quit both the party and the Rajya Sabha earlier this week.

Sushmita Dev’s exit marks the second high-profile resignation from TMC’s parliamentary ranks within a span of just a few days, raising questions about internal cohesion and leadership challenges within the party. While the exact reasons behind her resignation have not been officially disclosed, political observers view the move as part of a broader pattern of unrest within the Trinamool Congress.

A former Congress leader and ex-president of the All India Mahila Congress, Sushmita Dev joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 after ending her long association with the Congress party. Soon after joining TMC, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the party and emerged as one of its prominent national faces. She was re-elected to the Upper House from West Bengal in 2024 and frequently represented the party on national issues in Parliament.

The resignation comes at a time when TMC is facing increasing political challenges and reports of internal disagreements. Recent developments, including resignations by senior leaders and speculation about further departures, have intensified discussions about the party’s future strategy ahead of upcoming political battles.

Political analysts believe that Sushmita Dev’s departure could have implications beyond Parliament, particularly in the northeastern region where she has maintained considerable political influence. Her resignation is expected to trigger fresh debates about leadership dynamics within the Trinamool Congress and its role in national opposition politics.

As of now, neither Sushmita Dev nor the Trinamool Congress leadership has issued a detailed statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the resignation. Political circles will be closely watching the next steps taken by both the former MP and the party leadership in the coming days.