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Informist, Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – In another jolt to the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress, senior leader Firhad Hakim quit as mayor of Kolkata Wednesday. The resignation came close on the heels of a controversy over the post of leader of the Opposition in the state assembly and a series of resignations by party councillors in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

 

Hakim, who is considered one of Banerjee's close aides, is a four-time legislator from the Kolkata Port constituency and served as minister of urban development and municipal affairs in the previous government. According to media reports, he had earlier sought permission from the Trinamool Congress chief to resign from the post, citing difficulties in functioning after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state. But he was told to stay on.

 

"He wanted a dignified exit as the state government is rendering the municipal corporation defunct," Trinamool Congress legislator Kunal Ghosh told reporters in Kolkata. "After today's administrative meeting at Nabanna (seat of the state government), it became clear that the corporation has effectively been made defunct. In view of this situation, Mamata Banerjee has today permitted him to resign."

 

Earlier in the day, Speaker Rathindra Bose, a BJP member, recognised expelled Trinamool Congress legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as leader of the Opposition in the assembly. With large-scale desertions and open dissent by prominent party leaders since the party's ouster from power, a section of the media sees a split in the organisation imminent.

 

Meanwhile, Banerjee is said to be eager to attend a meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, commonly known as the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, scheduled for Monday in New Delhi, to rally the Opposition's support.  End
 

Reported by Asim Khan

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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