• Source:JND

TMC Crisis: The turmoil in Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) went beyond the West Bengal border, with its leader, Sushmita Dev, quitting her party and the Rajya Sabha membership. Moments after she gave a blow to already-troubled TMC, her picture with the Assam Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma, surfaced, hinting that she is set to steer her political career with the ruling party. Her resignation came at a time when Mamata is facing the biggest challenge to save TMC, following a major revolt in the party.

Who Is Sushmita Dev?

Sushmita, the daughter of veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister, late Santosh Mohan Dev, was a prominent woman leader in the grand old party until she switched to the TMC in 2021. Sushmita was the All India Mahila Congress president when she decided to go with Mamata's party in Assam. She had earlier served as Lok Sabha MP from Silchar in Assam.

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What Sushmita Said On Resignation

Without revealing her next move, Sushmita said she had a set of her own reasons, but did not explain them. She said, "It's my individual decision, what kind of politics I want to do and who should be my leader. I have my reasons, and that's why I have made my decision". On reports of her joining the BJP, she said, "When I make a decision, I will let you know." Dev said she had resigned due to personal and political reasons and that everyone has the right to change their mind and to decide what kind of politics they want to do.

How Sushmita Factor May Impact The Assam Political Landscape

1. Eyes On Barak Valley Areas: CM Himanta met Sushmita on Wednesday, which shows that the BJP understands the political weightage of the Sushmita factor, as her family historically holds political ground in Assam as well as Tripura. Sushmita represented the Silchar seat from 2014 to 2019. Her entry could dent the traditional vote bank of the Congress. Though the BJP won 9 out of the 13 newly delimited assembly constituencies in the Barak Valley in the recently concluded elections, experts credited the controversial delimitation to the saffron party's success. The BJP would like to boost its presence by having her on its side.

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2. Weakening TMC Unit: Sushmita was a prime face of the TMC Assam unit, and her move may trigger more resignations, weakening the party further in the state.

3. Impact On Women Voters: Former All India Mahila Congress president is a known face among women across the country. The BJP may give her a national responsibility to boost its vote bank further, as women emerged as a deciding factor in the recent elections.

4. Publicity: Sushmita could attract women voters and youth, especially in the Barak Valley, where the NDA may promote its development works through her leadership.

5. Himanta's Position As Strategist: In the last couple of years, Himanta emerged as a key strategist for the BJP. With his ability to reach out to political parties across the northeast, he has already proved his worth in the party. Now, if she joins the BJP, Himanta's cross-party strategy will be boosted further.

(With Agencies Inputs)


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