Mahila Congress Chief Sushmita Dev Quits Party, Submits Resignation To Sonia Gandhi

In her resignation letter sent to Sonia Gandhi, former Congress MP Sushmita Dev Dev thanked her for 'providing guidance and opportunity' and called her journey with the party 'enriching'.

Former All India Mahila Congress Chief Sushmita Dev (Getty Images)

New Delhi: Sushmita Dev, the chief of All India Mahila Congress has resigned from the party on Monday morning. Dev had earlier hinted about her resignation after she changed her Twitter bio as "Former Member, Indian National Congress". 

Sushmita Dev submitted her resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Sushmita Dev's letter offered no reason for her quitting the Congress, her party of three decades, simply saying she was “beginning a new chapter of public service”. She headed the Congress's women's wing, the All India Mahila Congress.

Sushmita Dev wrote: "I cherish my three-year-long association with the Indian National Congress. May I take this opportunity to thank the party, all its leaders, members, and workers who have been part of my memorable journey."

Dev also thanked Sonia Gandhi for "providing guidance and opportunity" and called her journey with the party "enriching".

The former MP’s Twitter handle was recently suspended by the microblogging site for violating its policy. The move came after Twitter blocked former Congress president Rahul Gandhi for posting a photograph of the parents of a nine-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in Delhi.

She is the daughter of late Congress leadwr and seven-time parliamentarian Santosh Mohan Dev, and was considered the face of the Congress in Assam’s largely Bengali-speaking Barak Valley.

BJP refutes speculations of Sushmita Dev joining BJP

Amid claims of former Mahila Congress Chief Sushmita Dev joining the Bhartiya Janta Party after quitting Congress, the saffron party has refuted the rumours.

"Sushmita Dev (former Congress leader) at present is not joining BJP. She isn't in touch with senior leaders of BJP is what I have learned from our leaders in the state. Her resignation from Congress is her own personal call", Dr Rajdeep Roy, MP & General Secy BJP Assam.

Meanwhile, other leaders of the Congress party are requesting Sushmita Dev to reconsider her decision.

"Sushmita Dev was a dedicated Congress leader, never thought she would take such a decision. We were like family. If she had anything against the party, she should have discussed it. I request her to reconsider her decision & withdraw resignation", said Congress MP Ripun Bora.

In a tweet, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said: "While young leaders leave we ‘oldies’ are blamed for our efforts to strengthen it 
The Party moves on with : 
Eyes Wide Shut"

Sushmita Dev

Resigns from primary membership of our Party

While young leaders leave we ‘oldies’ are blamed for our efforts to strengthen it

The Party moves on with :

Eyes Wide Shut

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) August 16, 2021