TMC's Sushmita Dev Quits Party and Rajya Sabha, Meets Himanta

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from the party and her Upper House membership on Wednesday, citing ongoing internal conflicts. Her resignation comes after the TMC suffered a major defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, triggering a wave of exits within the party. Dev also met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in New Delhi, raising speculation that she may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A former Congress leader, Dev had previously joined the TMC after leaving the Congress; her father, late Union Minister Santosh Mohan Dev, served in the UPA-I government. Her resignation follows that of Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who quit on June 8, blaming the party’s electoral loss on what he called 15 years of ‘anarchical rule’ under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Reports suggest around 20 Lok Sabha MPs have rebelled against the TMC leadership, with some seeking coordination with both central and state governments for West Bengal’s development. Meetings between rebel MPs, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari have fueled rumors of a potential merger with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Under anti-defection laws, a two-thirds majority would be required for such a move without facing disqualification. Meanwhile, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee met Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, while Banerjee herself held talks with Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Separately, expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee formed a rival faction with 58 MLAs, becoming Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.