Something on my mind, I may not contest Lok Sabha polls this time: actor-turned-TMC MP Dev

“To me, relationships are important. I love and respect Didi (Mamata Banerjee). It will not be only my decision. I have discussed this with Didi. I will talk to her again. It all now depends on Didi and what she wants…” added Dev.

The Bengali film star, however, refuted rumours that he was leaving the TMC.

“Who said this? Why should I leave the party? Why should I go to some other party?” quipped Dev, adding “I believe in the politics of people’s welfare. In the last 10 years (as MP), I have not said anything that will make our workers fight members of other parties. I may be holding a post or I may not. To do good work I do not think that holding a post is necessary.”

Recently, the TMC MP from Ghatal submitted his resignation from three state government committees, giving rise to conjectures.

In three letters to the district magistrate, Dev resigned as ‘Vice-Chairman of Birsingha Development Authority’, ‘Chairman of Rogi Kalyan Samity – Ghatal SD Hospital’ and ‘President of Ghatal Rabindra Satabarshiki Maha Vidyalaya’. Dev, however, did not assign any reason for his sudden resignation.

Birsingha Development Authority is a statutory body under the department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs for the development of Ghatal municipal and gram panchayat areas. As an MP, he was also the chairman of the Rogi Kalyan Samity which runs the Ghatal SD Hospital, and president of the state-run school.

Born in Mahishda, a village in Keshpur in Paschim Medinipur district, Dev went on to become a Bengali cine star. He is a popular actor with several commercial films under his belt. In 2014, he contested the Ghatal Lok Sabha seat after a request from Banerjee and won. In 2019, he once again contested on a TMC ticket and won the seat.

In 2022, Dev and superstar-turned-BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty starred in the film Projapati. The film courted controversy after it failed to find a slot in Nandan – a government-sponsored film and cultural centre. The BJP alleged that the film was intentionally not screened at Nandan since it features Chakraborty.