Trinamool Congress sees third Rajya Sabha resignation, deepening internal crisis

On June 10, 2026, Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Upper House, becoming the second senior parliamentarian to quit the party within a week after the departure of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy. The following day, TMC Rajya Sabha member Prakash Chik Baraik submitted his resignation, marking a third exit in rapid succession. These resignations come amid a widening internal rift, with rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee claiming that around 20 of the party’s 28 Lok Sabha MPs are considering aligning with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Dev’s resignation was followed by a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in New Delhi, fueling speculation that she may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party’s leadership, headed by Mamata Banerjee, has denounced the dissent, while senior TMC members such as Kalyan Banerjee have urged dissidents to resign. The wave of departures reduces TMC’s representation in the Rajya Sabha and intensifies scrutiny of the party’s cohesion ahead of upcoming political battles.