By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Trinamool Congress (TMC) faced another political jolt on Tuesday after Rajya Sabha member Sushmita Dev stepped down from the Upper House, adding to growing concerns over unrest within the party’s ranks.
Dev’s resignation comes just days after veteran TMC leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray severed ties with both the party and Parliament, triggering speculation about widening differences within the organisation ahead of key political battles.
A prominent political figure from Assam, Dev represented Silchar in the Lok Sabha as a Congress MP before joining the Trinamool Congress in 2021. Following her switch, she quickly rose within the party structure, becoming one of its national spokespersons and later securing a berth in the Rajya Sabha.
Her departure marks the second exit from the party’s parliamentary contingent in less than a week, raising questions about internal cohesion within the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit.
Political observers believe the back-to-back resignations indicate growing unease among certain sections of the party, with reports suggesting that dissatisfaction is not limited to the state unit but has also surfaced among some parliamentarians.
The developments come against the backdrop of mounting political challenges for the TMC following recent electoral setbacks and increasing signs of factionalism. Party insiders and political analysts have been closely monitoring the situation amid indications of differing views within the organisation.
Earlier, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray had cited concerns over governance, corruption and public disenchantment while announcing his resignation. In his statement, he claimed that these factors had contributed to the party’s declining public support and also lauded developmental initiatives undertaken by the BJP government in the state.
While Dev’s resignation has intensified speculation regarding the reasons behind her decision, neither the former MP nor the Trinamool Congress had issued a detailed explanation at the time of reporting.
The latest development is expected to further impact the party’s strength in the Rajya Sabha and fuel political debate over the state of affairs within one of India’s important opposition parties.