The political landscape in India is shifting once again, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) finds itself in rough waters. On Wednesday, prominent leader and Member of Parliament Sushmita Dev officially resigned from her seat in the Rajya Sabha. This unexpected move has sent ripples through political circles, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the party.

What makes this exit particularly damaging is the timing and the context. Ms. Dev is not the first high-profile leader to walk away this week. Her departure follows closely on the heels of another senior leader, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who also resigned from both the party and his parliamentary position. Losing two major voices within a matter of days is a severe blow to the party’s strength in New Delhi.

Ms. Dev, a familiar face who originally built her career as a strong leader in the Congress party before switching to the TMC a few years ago, made her resignation official after meeting with Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. In her formal letter, she expressed her gratitude to the parliamentary staff for their support during her tenure but gave no public reasons for her sudden exit.

However, behind closed doors, the political rumor mill is spinning fast. Reliable internal sources suggest that Ms. Dev is planning to switch sides and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speculation has intensified following reports of her recent meeting with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. If these rumors prove true, her move could dramatically alter the political dynamics of the region.

This string of high-profile departures highlights a growing internal crisis within the Trinamool Congress. Following a challenging outcome in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, internal unity seems to be fracturing. A significant number of party lawmakers are reportedly unhappy and are looking for alternative political alliances to secure their futures.

In fact, the unrest runs much deeper than just a few individual resignations. Reports indicate that a group of around 20 TMC Members of Parliament are currently planning to break away entirely. Their goal is to form a separate, independent bloc within parliament that will openly align with and support the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Meanwhile, the trouble is mirroring itself at the state level. A substantial majority of Trinamool's local lawmakers have already taken steps to separate themselves from the core party leadership, organizing a new faction in the State Assembly. This dual-level rebellion, unfolding simultaneously in Delhi and West Bengal, leaves the TMC leadership facing one of its toughest political tests yet.