Sushmita joins TMC after quitting Cong
A day after she submitted her resignation from the Congress, former Assam MP Sushmita Dev on Monday joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the presence of the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata.
The former legislator from Silchar, who served as the president of All-india Mahila Congress, arrived in the city and met Abhishek, nephew of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and TMC leader of Rajya Sabha, Derek O’brien, at the former’s office in Camac Street here.
The 49-year-old also visited Nabanna, the state secretariat, and met the chief minister.
“We warmly welcome the former president of All India Mahila Congress Sushmita Dev to our Trinamool family! Inspired by Mamata Banerjee, she joins us today in the presence of our national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee & parliamentary party leader, Rajya Sabha, Derek O’brien,” the ruling party posted on Facebook.
Dev and O’brien are slated to address the media in Delhi on Tuesday.
With the TMC already begincongress ning work to spread its base in Assam and Tripura, speculations are rife that Dev may be assigned an important role in the northeast. “I cannot predict anything right now but any leader who is sincere about fighting against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is welcome on board,” TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said.
Dev is the daughter of former Union minister Santosh Mohan Dev who also represented the Silchar seat as well as Tripura West Lok Sabha in the adjoining state. He died in 2017. Her mother, Bithika Dev, is also a former legislator from Silchar.
Besides serving as the chief of All-india Mahila Congress, Dev was also a national spokesperson of the party. According to people familiar with the matter, she sent her resignation letter to working presi Sonia Gandhi on Sunday.
“Please treat this as my r nation from the primary m bership of the Indian Nati Congress,” her resignation le where she identified herse “Former Member of Parliam Lok Sabha”, read.
The former Congress le exited Whatsapp group Mahila Congress and tha spokespersons, the people c above added. Her Twitter was also updated later “Former Member, Ind National Congress,” “Former President, All I Mahila Congress”.
Reacting to her exit from Congress, party spokespe Randeep Singh Surjew alleged that Gandhi had received the letter from former colleague. “I tried sp ing with Dev but her phone off. She was a dedicated gress worker and perhap even today. Sonia Gandhi not received any letter from She is mature enough to m her decisions, and I cannot c ment till I speak with her, told reporters in Delhi.
Former Bengal Congress c Pradip Bhattacharya said: “surprised. Dev held a high in the Congress. Probably had some grievances.”