Kolkata/Guwahati, August 16 (UNI): Former Congress MP and Mahila Congress Chief Sushmita Dev, who quit the grand old party, on Monday joined Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in presence of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee (MP) and Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien in the city.
“We warmly welcome the former president of All Indian Mahila Congress Susmita Dev to our Trinamool Family. Inspired by Mamata Banerjee, she joins us today in presence of our national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Parliamentary Party leader, Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien,” a TMC statement said.
Dev in her resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said she was beginning a “new chapter in my life of public service”.
Assam Congress shocked
The Assam Congress has said the party is shocked that Dev resigned from the party.
“Assam Pradesh Congress Committee feels that while holding such a responsible post as president of All India Mahila Congress, Sushmita Dev’s resignation from the party is indeed very shocking,” APCC Media Department Chairperson Bobbeeta Sharma said in a statement.
The Assam Congress’s statement comes hours after Dev resigned from the primary membership of the party and joined hands with the Trinamool Congress.
“Dev as AIMC president was leading lakhs of Congress women all over India. The Congress party never expected this from Dev as Congress had always respected her talent and had given her a lot of opportunities to grow as a leader,” Sharma said.
