Sushmita Dev quits Cong, shifts to TMC
KOLKATA/SILCHAR: Former Silchar MP Sushmita Dev quit the Congress and joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday, prompting criticism within the principal opposition party and potentially helping Bengal’s ruling party expand its political footprint in the north-east.
Dev was the national spokesperson of the Congress and the chief of the All India Mahila Congress. She sent her resignation letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in a letter dated August 15, but didn’t mention any reasons for her resignation.
“I cherish my three decade long association with the Indian National Congress... I hope I have your good wishes as I begin a new chapter in my life of public service,” she said in the letter that became public on Monday.
Later on Monday, she flew to Kolkata and joined the TMC in the presence of the party’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. The 48-yearold former legislator was accompanied by TMC leader of Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien. She also visited Nabanna, the state secretariat, and met chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
“Met TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and had a good discussion with him...then the three of us met the (West Bengal) chief minister. She clearly has an excellent future vision for the party,” said Dev in a video message.
The TMC welcomed her.
“Inspired by @MamataOfficial, she joins us today in the presence of our national general secretary @abhishekaitc & parliamentary party Leader, Rajya Sabha, @derekobrienmp,” TMC tweeted.
Dev and O’Brien are slated to address the media in Delhi on Tuesday. Dev’s entry into the TMC comes even as the party is trying to bring together likeminded parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party, currently the national political hegemon. Since the party’s landslide victory against the BJP in the West Bengal assembly elections in May, party chief and state chief minister Banerjee has sought to work towards this.
“I cannot predict anything right now but any leader who is sincere about fighting the BJP is welcome on board,” TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal blamed the party for her departure. “Dev resigns from primary membership of our party. While young leaders leave we ‘oldies’ are blamed for our efforts to strengthen it. The party moves on with :Eyes Wide Shut,” he tweeted.