“That Question Comes Later”: Sushmita Dev Dodges BJP ‘Communal Party’ Label Debate

Former Member of Parliament Sushmita Dev has said that she sees her political future in Assam’s Barak Valley and praised the development work carried out under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, during her first visit to the region after leaving the All India Trinamool Congress.

Speaking to the media, Dev said there is “a huge difference” between Barak Valley and Assam a decade ago and the present situation, adding that large-scale development work has taken place across the region under the current government. She particularly highlighted infrastructure progress and said such work cannot be ignored when comparing past and present conditions.

Dev also indicated that her political future is now centred in Assam, stating that if she contests elections in the future, it will be from the Barak Valley. However, she did not confirm when or whether she will formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying the decision rests with the party leadership and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

On her exit from the Trinamool Congress, Dev said she had the option to retain her Rajya Sabha seat after leaving the party but chose not to, calling it “pointless” to continue holding a seat allocated by her former party. She clarified that her decision to leave was not linked to electoral outcomes in West Bengal or the performance of party leader Mamata Banerjee.

She added that internal political developments and her assessment of the party’s limited scope beyond West Bengal influenced her decision to quit. Dev also said she would not comment on Mamata Banerjee, either now or in the future.

Responding to past criticism in which she had referred to the BJP as a communal party, Dev said such questions would be appropriate only if and when she formally joins the party. “As of now, I have not joined,” she said, adding that she would address such concerns at a later stage if required.

During her interaction, Dev also referred to the recent electoral trends in Assam, noting the scale of victory margins achieved by the BJP and describing them as unprecedented. She said this reflected strong public support for the ruling party’s governance in the state.

Her remarks come amid growing political speculation over her next move following her exit from the Trinamool Congress, although she has not made any formal announcement regarding her future party affiliation.