Former Lok Sabha MP Sushmita Dev, who has recently joined All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), has said that there is a need for a strong opposition in Assam.
The former Congress leader said that she will strive to strengthen the foundation of AITC at the grassroots.
“Since I joined the AITC, there has been a rush of calls and messages from people not only in Assam but from various parts of Northeast and also from other states asking about how to approach the AITC chairperson. After this year’s Assembly election in West Bengal, the entire nation is looking towards Mamata didi and I believe, people no longer perceive her as only being the Chief Minister of a state,” Sushmita told reporters in Silchar on Friday.
Dev said Mamata Banerjee is an astute national leader and as such understands the pulse of politics in Assam.
“She has never uttered a word against the Assamese sentiments neither did I. But I feel there is a need for a strong opposition in Assam and I shall strive to strengthen the party’s foundation at the grassroots,” she added.
Dev further said that she will continue to represent the voices of the people of Barak Valley to which even the AITC high command has agreed and asked her to meet people and discuss the core issues.
She admitted that it was tough to quit the Congress membership.
“I could not sleep for a couple of nights before I stood firm on my decision. I have no grievances against the Gandhi family. Before and during the Assembly election in the state, there can be no one who would say I have not worked for the party and delivered my best efforts,” Sushmita said.
She added that while the Congress party has lost the digital war, which is the USP of the BJP, the AITC has tapped on the need to challenge the BJP on the digital front.