My politics lies in Assam, not Bengal: Sushmita Dev drops big hint after TMC exit
After quitting the Trinamool Congress and the Rajya Sabha, Sushmita Dev said her politics lies in Assam. Her meeting with Himanta Biswa Sarma has intensified speculation over a BJP move as she praised the government's work in Barak Valley.
Fresh after resigning from the Trinamool Congress and the Rajya Sabha, Sushmita Dev said that her political future lies in Assam, not Bengal. Dev, who was a Congress Lok Sabha MP from Assam's Silchar, left the party in 2019 after losing her seat to the BJP's Rajdeep Roy.
In 2021, she joined the TMC. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the party's national spokesperson and later securing a Rajya Sabha berth.
However, she left the TMC on Wednesday, becoming the second Rajya Sabha MP to do so as the party faces an existential crisis following its 2026 rout.
When asked why she had taken the decision, she told India Today, "I have both personal and political reasons. Where I do politics and how I do it is my personal right. If I am giving up my TMC membership, then I should give up my Rajya Sabha seat as well."
In a surprise move, she also met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi after resigning from the Rajya Sabha, with sources telling India Today that she is likely to join the BJP.
Sources further revealed that Sushmita may contest from an Assam Lok Sabha seat where a by-election is due.
"My politics is not in Bengal; it lies in Assam. I want to do my politics there, that's all. There is nothing to hide about the political situation in Assam. I met Himanta Biswa Sarma. If I want to go to any party, that is the party's decision, not mine," she further told India Today.
"The BJP is going to remain in power for the next five years. The kind of infrastructure push that has happened, especially in Barak Valley, is remarkable. I have done my politics there. I have never seen such development in the region before. I used to speak against the BJP, but on this issue, I found myself stuck," she added.
On Himanta Biswa Sarma's leadership, Dev said that it is the job of politicians to criticise their colleagues.
"But if you look at his track record, Himanta Biswa Sarma has been voted back to power. That is because people like his work. It is the people who can give the best verdict on a politician's leadership," she said.
Fresh after resigning from the Trinamool Congress and the Rajya Sabha, Sushmita Dev said that her political future lies in Assam, not Bengal. Dev, who was a Congress Lok Sabha MP from Assam's Silchar, left the party in 2019 after losing her seat to the BJP's Rajdeep Roy.
In 2021, she joined the TMC. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the party's national spokesperson and later securing a Rajya Sabha berth.
However, she left the TMC on Wednesday, becoming the second Rajya Sabha MP to do so as the party faces an existential crisis following its 2026 rout.
When asked why she had taken the decision, she told India Today, "I have both personal and political reasons. Where I do politics and how I do it is my personal right. If I am giving up my TMC membership, then I should give up my Rajya Sabha seat as well."
In a surprise move, she also met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Delhi after resigning from the Rajya Sabha, with sources telling India Today that she is likely to join the BJP.
Sources further revealed that Sushmita may contest from an Assam Lok Sabha seat where a by-election is due.
"My politics is not in Bengal; it lies in Assam. I want to do my politics there, that's all. There is nothing to hide about the political situation in Assam. I met Himanta Biswa Sarma. If I want to go to any party, that is the party's decision, not mine," she further told India Today.
"The BJP is going to remain in power for the next five years. The kind of infrastructure push that has happened, especially in Barak Valley, is remarkable. I have done my politics there. I have never seen such development in the region before. I used to speak against the BJP, but on this issue, I found myself stuck," she added.
On Himanta Biswa Sarma's leadership, Dev said that it is the job of politicians to criticise their colleagues.
"But if you look at his track record, Himanta Biswa Sarma has been voted back to power. That is because people like his work. It is the people who can give the best verdict on a politician's leadership," she said.
