Hakim’s resignation comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is grappling with mounting uncertainty and a wave of resignations by party councillors in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in recent weeks. There was no immediate announcement regarding his successor.
The 67-year-old leader, regarded as one of the party’s most influential figures and a prominent minority representative, had reportedly sought permission from Mamata Banerjee earlier to step down from the mayoral post. He had cited increasing difficulties in functioning after the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power in West Bengal.
According to Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh, Hakim had previously requested permission to resign but was persuaded by the party leadership to continue in office. However, he renewed his request on Wednesday, following which Mamata Banerjee agreed to his resignation.
Hakim has served as the Mayor of Kolkata since 2018 and has held several key ministerial portfolios in the West Bengal government over the years. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has remained under Trinamool Congress control since 2010, making his departure a significant political development.
The resignation comes against the backdrop of major changes within the party’s legislative structure. Last month, Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee submitted a letter to the Speaker’s office naming Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition, Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as Deputy Leaders of the Opposition, and Firhad Hakim as the Chief Whip of the party’s legislature wing in the West Bengal Assembly.
Meanwhile, internal dissent within the Trinamool Congress has rapidly evolved into an open rebellion. A dissident faction of party legislators met the Assembly Speaker and submitted letters of support from 58 Members of the Legislative Assembly backing Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of Leader of the Opposition. Ritabrata Banerjee had been expelled from the party on Monday on charges of anti-party activities.
The rebel camp, led by expelled legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, claims the support of 58 legislators out of the Trinamool Congress’ total strength of 80 Members of the Legislative Assembly. The group has also declared itself the legitimate representative of the Trinamool Congress, signaling a dramatic escalation of the internal conflict.
The developments indicate that the Trinamool Congress has effectively split just one month after suffering a landslide defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. With senior leaders resigning, legislators defecting, and rival factions competing for control of the party’s political identity, the crisis marks one of the most serious challenges faced by the Trinamool Congress in its recent history.
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