Team News Riveting
New Delhi, August 16
Congress today received a big jolt as its senior acting functionary and President of All India Mahila Congress Sushmita Dev quit the party.
She had offered no reason in her letter to Sonia Gandhi for quitting her party of three decades, only talking about a “new chapter of public service”. But sources said she had been unhappy with the Congress leadership over the decisions taken during the Assam state polls in April-May especially tie up with the AIUDF. She also had a disagreement with the state Congress leadership over the choice of poll candidates and the election management.
Former Congress MP from Assam had joined the Trinamool Congress of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. On Monday morning, she changed her Twitter profile to “Former Member” of the party that was the first indication that she had quit Congress. Though her resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi surfaced soon, the party officially denied her exit and even the letter.
“I tried speaking with Sushmita Dev, her phone was off She was a dedicated Congress worker and perhaps is, even today. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has not received any letter from her. She’s mature enough to take her decisions, I can’t comment until I speak with her,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.
Ms Dev met with senior Trinamool leaders including Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien before formally joining the party.
