Senior Trinamool Congress leader and Mamata Banerjee’s trusted aide, Firhad Hakim, on Friday resigned as the Mayor of Kolkata after the party supremo accepted his request to step down.
Hakim, one of the
party’s most prominent leaders and a close aide of Banerjee, had earlier sought permission from the TMC chief to resign from the post, citing difficulties in functioning after the BJP came to power in West Bengal.
“At that time, he was asked not to resign. However, he again requested Mamata Banerjee today to allow him to step down, following which she agreed,” TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh told reporters.
Reason For Resignation
The resignation comes against the backdrop of the party’s electoral performance, with the BJP currently leading in 102 of 144 wards, while the TMC is ahead in 42 wards.
Against this backdrop, two possible reasons are being discussed for Firhad Hakim stepping down as Mayor.
Also Read: Another Jolt For TMC? Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, A Close Aide Of Mamata, Wants To Step Down
One view links the move to the party’s poor performance and an emerging lack of trust in its leadership. Another suggests that Hakim, being one of the TMC’s prominent minority faces, may have come under heightened scrutiny, with some observers pointing to perceptions around the party’s minority outreach as a factor in its electoral setback.
Six-Year Tenure As Kolkata Mayor
Hakim has served as Kolkata Mayor since 2018 and has also held several key ministerial portfolios in the state government over the years. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has been under Trinamool Congress control since 2010.
There was no immediate word on who would succeed Hakim as the Mayor of Kolkata.
Hakim’s resignation is seen as a setback for the TMC at a time when the party is facing internal turbulence following its loss of power in the state.
Political Turmoil Within Trinamool Congress
The development comes amid growing uncertainty within the Trinamool Congress and a series of resignations by party councillors in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in recent weeks.
Also Read: ‘Mamata Is Our Supreme Leader, Not Adviser’: Internal Discord Hits TMC Rebel Camp Over Ritabrata’s Plan
Last month, Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee had sent a letter to the Speaker’s office naming Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders of the opposition, and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip of the Trinamool Congress legislature party in the Assembly.
Rebellion And Leadership Change In Assembly
Meanwhile, a group of dissident Trinamool legislators met the Assembly Speaker and submitted letters of support from 58 MLAs backing Ritabrata Banerjee, who was expelled from the Trinamool on Monday for anti-party activities, for the post of Leader of Opposition.
Out of the 80 Trinamool legislators in the Assembly, 58 reportedly revolted under the leadership of expelled legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha. The Speaker accepted their letter, and Ritabrata Banerjee was made Leader of the Opposition.
The development comes as political changes continue within the Trinamool Congress following recent Assembly election results.
