Sushmita Dev meets Himanta Biswa Sarma after quitting TMC, says she wants to continue politics in Assam

Former Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, hours after resigning from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and relinquishing her Rajya Sabha membership.

Dev said her meeting with Sarma was driven by her desire to continue her political career in Assam. Speaking to media, she stated that after stepping down from both the party and Parliament, she decided to meet the Assam chief minister as she intends to remain active in state politics.

“I want to work in Assam and continue my political journey there. After resigning from the party and the Rajya Sabha, I met Himanta Biswa Sarma with that objective in mind,” she said.

However, Dev refrained from disclosing details of the discussions and said she would speak about them at an appropriate time. She also clarified that she is currently not affiliated with any political party and that any future political move would depend on the decision of the party concerned.

The resignation marks another setback for the All India Trinamool Congress, which has been facing internal turmoil following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

In recent days, several senior leaders have distanced themselves from the party. Former Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned from Parliament, while a large section of TMC legislators has reportedly rebelled against the party leadership.

Political tensions within the party have intensified after rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee staked claim to the post of Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Separately, TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar reportedly expressed support for a separate group of lawmakers willing to back the BJP-led NDA.

Explaining her departure from the TMC, Dev said she did not want to remain in a situation where she was “in two boats at the same time,” though she declined to elaborate further on the reasons behind her decision.

She also expressed gratitude to the people of West Bengal for the opportunity to serve in Parliament and said she is now a “free woman” as she considers her next political move.