No Seat, Still Heat: Dev Questions Anti-Incumbency Wave Against Rajdeep Roy

Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev on Wednesday (March 25) sparked a sharp political debate after she claimed that BJP’s Silchar MLA candidate Rajdeep Roy is facing a rare and intense wave of public backlash despite not holding any office in the past two years, questioning his public image and credibility ahead of the Assam Legislative Assembly election 2026, while addressing the media in Silchar and highlighting what she described as an unusual anti-incumbency-like sentiment among voters.

Addressing a press conference, Dev said she does not usually comment on individuals but noted that such public backlash is typically directed at sitting MPs or MLAs. “This is the first time I am witnessing someone who is neither an MP nor an MLA and is still facing that level of anti-incumbency-like reaction from the public,” she said.

Roy, who served as a Member of Parliament until 2024, has not held any government position for the past two years. However, his nomination for the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly election 2026 has reportedly triggered visible public criticism in Silchar, a development Dev described as “shocking”.

Focusing on voter behaviour in Silchar, Dev said the town’s electorate is highly aware and closely observes the conduct of public figures. “Silchar may be a large and densely populated town, but it functions like a close-knit community where people know each other’s behaviour and reputation,” she said. According to her, public perception is shaped not only by political work but also by personal conduct and accessibility.

Without naming Roy directly, Dev used a hypothetical example to underline her point. She said if a professional, such as a barrister, demands high fees from a poor person and refuses help, such behaviour would affect their public image as a politician. “Your professional conduct reflects your political credibility,” she said, implying that voters take note of such actions.

Dev also shifted focus to local governance, stating that for Silchar, the mayoral position holds more practical importance than that of an MLA. She argued that the mayor has greater day-to-day impact on civic issues, suggesting that municipal leadership should receive more attention.

On party strategy, Dev said the All India Trinamool Congress has fielded candidates in five seats in the Barak Valley while maintaining what she described as a balanced representation across Assam. She confirmed that some candidates have joined from the Indian National Congress, but added that the party declined requests from BJP rebels seeking tickets. “Experience shows that leaders from BJP tend to return to the party after winning,” she claimed.

Highlighting political shifts in the region, Dev pointed to Katigorah, where a former three-time Congress MLA is now contesting as a BJP candidate. “Today, people can hardly differentiate between Congress and BJP candidates in some places,” she said.

In Sonai, Sushmita Dev said the contest is largely between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress, but raised concerns over frequent party-switching. She pointed to Congress candidate Aminul Haque Laskar, noting that he has shifted from the Asom Gana Parishad to BJP and then to Congress, questioning the consistency of his political ideology.

In contrast, she strongly backed TMC’s Sahajan Laskar, projecting him as a stable and grassroots-connected candidate, and urged voters to prioritise credibility, consistency and long-term public engagement over shifting political loyalties.

She further outlined ten key issues that TMC plans to prioritise, including the NRC, D-voter concerns, smart meters and unemployment. These, she said, would shape the party’s campaign and policy approach.

Responding to allegations by the Indian National Congress that the All India Trinamool Congress indirectly benefits the Bharatiya Janata Party by dividing opposition votes, Sushmita Dev asserted that her party has deliberately stayed out of key constituencies like Silchar and Lakhipur, which are considered crucial for Congress in the Barak Valley.

She said this decision clearly rules out any possibility of vote-splitting in these seats. Dev further challenged Congress to prove its organisational strength, stating that the electoral outcomes in Silchar and Lakhipur would act as “Agni Pariksha” for the party, revealing its actual support base and credibility among voters in the region.

As campaigning gains momentum, Dev framed the Silchar contest as a choice between credibility and accessibility, emphasising that voters are likely to favour candidates who maintain strong public relationships and consistent engagement over time.