New Delhi, Jun 10: Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev on Wednesday resigned from the Upper House and all party positions, becoming the second Trinamool Rajya Sabha member to quit the party this week amid growing signs of internal unrest.

In a letter addressed to Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan, Dev wrote: “I do hereby resign from the membership of Rajya Sabha, which may please be accepted with immediate effect.” Her resignation has since been accepted.

The development comes just days after veteran Trinamool leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from both Parliament and the party.

Meeting With Himanta Sarma Sparks Speculation
Shortly after stepping down, Sushmita Dev was seen meeting Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at his residence in Delhi, fuelling speculation about her future political plans.

A video from the meeting showed Dev responding to questions about possible political implications by saying, “There's only Assam connection.”

Speaking to reporters later, she maintained that the decision to resign was entirely her own.

“What prompted me to take this decision is a very long story and in politics not everything needs to be revealed. I don't want to be in a situation where I am in two boats. I have never stayed in a party and served another. The decision is my own,” she said.

‘I Wanted His Guidance’
Dev indicated that her immediate focus would be Assam, particularly the Barak Valley region from where she hails.

“I am a free woman. Let me be on a few days' sabbatical. I come from the region of Barak Valley in Assam. I would like to serve the people of Assam,” she said.

Asked about her meeting with Himanta Sarma, she said: “I wanted his guidance. I think that he is the right person to guide me.”

While declining to comment on the ongoing developments within the Trinamool Congress, she said she was not directly involved in West Bengal politics.

“Why are some people moving away from Trinamool I am not privy to these reasons. I am not directly involved in Bengal politics,” she said, urging reporters to seek answers from the party’s MPs and MLAs.

“Which party I will be in and what my politics will be — that is my decision. Politics will continue. I am a politician with an electoral background and I am an organisational person. Assam is my state,” she added.

Congress Leader Who Joined TMC In 2021
The 53-year-old politician joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 after leaving the Congress and had then spoken about beginning a “new chapter of public service”.

Daughter of former Assam Congress stalwart and influential Bengali leader Santosh Mohan Dev, she previously headed the All India Mahila Congress and served as a Member of Parliament from Silchar, her family’s political stronghold in Assam.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray Had Resigned Earlier
On Monday, veteran Trinamool leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray announced his resignation from both Parliament and the party.

In a statement, Ray also criticised the Trinamool Congress and its 15-year rule in West Bengal.

“Already, the newly elected state government of West Bengal has started working to fulfil the promises made in its election manifesto and has started multiple programmes for the overall development and progress of West Bengal. I accept this overwhelming verdict from the people of West Bengal in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections and resign from both the Rajya Sabha as well as from primary membership of the Trinamool Congress,” Ray said.

MLA Revolt Deepens Questions Over Party Unity
The twin resignations come against the backdrop of an unprecedented rebellion within the Trinamool legislature party in West Bengal.

Recently, 58 Trinamool MLAs reportedly broke ranks with the party leadership and backed Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of Leader of the Opposition, rejecting the party’s official nominee, Shovandeb Chattopadhyay.

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The revolt culminated in Ritabrata Banerjee being recognised as Leader of the Opposition by the Assembly Speaker, exposing deep divisions within the organisation following the party’s defeat in the Assembly elections.

Political observers believe the resignations of two Rajya Sabha members within days, coupled with the legislative rebellion, have intensified questions over the party’s internal cohesion and future direction.