Former Congress MP from Assam Sushmita Dev on Monday, 16 August, resigned from the primary membership of the party and joined Trinamool Congress in the presence of party leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien.
Welcoming the leader, TMC wrote on Twitter, "We warmly welcome the former President of All India Mahila Congress to our Trinamool Family!"
Dev had made the announcement of her withdrawal in a change in her Twitter bio as well, which read "Former Member" of the Congress.
Dev has also reportedly sent a letter to interim chief Sonia Gandhi.
According to NDTV, Dev's letter to Gandhi gave no reason for her sudden departure from the party.
"I cherish my three-decade-long association with the National Congress. May I take this opportunity to thank the party, all its leaders, members and workers who have been my memorable journey. Madam, I thank you personally for your guidance and the opportunities you gave me. I value the enriching experience. I hope I have your good wishes as I begin a new chapter in my life of public service," Dev said in her letter, according to Hindustan Times.
Reacting sharply to Dev's resignation, Congress leader Kapil Sibal wrote that while young leaders were free to leave, "oldies" in the Congress are blamed for their efforts to strengthen the party.
Sibal is among the group of 23 leaders behind a letter written to Gandhi calling for wide-ranging reforms in the party.
Reacting to her quitting the party, Congress MP Ripun Bora said that Dev was a dedicated Congress leader and he had 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 and withdraw her resignation," Bora said, according to news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that he had tried speaking with Dev but that her phone was switched off. He also said that Sonia Gandhi had not received any letter from Dev yet.
"She was a dedicated Congress worker and perhaps is, even today... She's mature enough to take her decisions. I can't comment until I speak with her," Surjewala said, according to ANI.
Dev made headlines for her stance on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which differs from that of the Congress. Dev backed the act, saying that the people of Assam's Barak Valley were in favour of it, reported News18.
Dev was among those from the Congress who were locked out of their Twitter accounts after they shared photos of the parents of the nine-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped and murdered in Delhi.
(With inputs from ANI, NDTV and News18.)
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