Sushmita Dev Defends TMC Exit, Meets Himanta Sarma

• Sushmita Dev resigns from Trinamool Congress and Rajya Sabha.
• Defends decision, saying politicians have the right to change their minds.
• Meets Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after resignation.
• Refuses to rule out joining BJP, says “Never say never”.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th June: Former Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev on Wednesday defended her decision to quit the party and Parliament, saying political circumstances often change and leaders must be allowed the freedom to rethink their positions.

In an interview after announcing her resignation, Dev acknowledged that her departure from the Trinamool Congress would be viewed critically given the party’s current political situation.

“I admit it is the worst time to leave Mamata Banerjee, but I am entitled to think for myself,” she said.

The daughter of veteran Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev, Sushmita Dev joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 after leaving the Congress and went on to become one of the party’s most prominent faces in Assam.

Explaining her decision, Dev said individuals in politics have the right to change their minds when circumstances evolve.

“Today, everybody has the right to have a change of mind, and it shouldn’t be held against me because circumstances change in politics,” she said.

Defending her position further, she cited examples of political realignments in the past and noted that leaders often take decisions based on changing political realities and public interests.

Her resignation letter to the Trinamool Congress was brief, but the political impact was immediate, particularly in Assam where she had been a key figure for the party.

Soon after stepping down, Dev met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, triggering speculation about her future political plans.

When asked whether she was considering joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, Dev did not give a direct denial.

“Never say never,” she said, while adding that her meeting with the Chief Minister was primarily to seek advice.

Earlier, she had stated that joining the BJP was not solely her decision and maintained that her discussion with Sarma should not automatically be interpreted as a move towards the ruling party.

Her resignation comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is facing internal challenges and political turbulence in several regions.

Political observers view Dev’s exit as a setback for the party’s efforts to expand its footprint in Assam and the Northeast, where she had emerged as one of its most recognisable leaders.

The development has also fuelled speculation over possible future political realignments ahead of upcoming electoral contests in the region.