Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh stated that Firhad Hakim had earlier sought permission from Mamata Banerjee to resign from the mayor’s post, citing difficulties in functioning after the political transition in the state.
According to Ghosh, Hakim had previously been persuaded to continue in office. However, he reportedly renewed his request before Mamata Banerjee on June 3, following which she agreed to allow him to step down.
The development has fueled speculation over whether the resignation is purely administrative or indicative of deeper concerns within the party’s leadership structure.
Firhad Hakim is widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders within the Trinamool Congress. Over the years, he has held several key ministerial portfolios and emerged as one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest political confidants.
As Mayor of Kolkata, Hakim has remained a prominent face of civic administration while simultaneously playing a crucial role in the party’s organisational and political affairs. Any decision by him to relinquish office is therefore likely to have implications far beyond municipal politics.
Reports note that the possible exit of such a senior leader from a key public position could intensify concerns about the party’s internal stability.
Hakim’s reported decision comes at a particularly challenging time for the Trinamool Congress, which has been struggling to regroup after losing power in West Bengal.
The BJP’s victory in the Assembly elections brought an end to more than a decade of Trinamool Congress rule in the state, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari assuming office as Chief Minister. Since then, the TMC has faced organisational challenges, internal dissent, leadership disputes, and growing questions about its future political direction.
Several senior leaders have reportedly expressed concerns over the party’s functioning, while differences have emerged over strategy, leadership, and the road ahead for the opposition party in Bengal.
Against this backdrop, Hakim’s reported desire to resign from the Kolkata Mayor’s post has sparked fresh speculation about the state of affairs within the TMC. As one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest associates and among the party’s most influential minority leaders, any move by him is likely to be closely scrutinised.
The latest development also coincides with a major controversy in the West Bengal Assembly.
According to reports, at least 58 of the 80 MLAs elected in the recent elections backed expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of Leader of Opposition. The move reportedly came despite the party leadership backing senior MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay for the role.
The episode triggered a fresh political storm, with allegations surfacing that signatures on supporting documents had been forged. The controversy has exposed apparent divisions within the party and intensified debate over the future leadership and direction of the TMC.
Another Blow for TMC?
Many view the convergence of multiple controversies—including internal dissent, leadership disputes, the Ritabrata Banerjee episode, and now Firhad Hakim’s reported resignation bid—as signs of increasing turbulence within the Trinamool Congress.
While the party leadership has not issued a formal statement regarding Hakim’s future, his reported decision has become the latest focal point in Bengal’s evolving political landscape.
If the resignation materialises, it would mark the departure of one of Mamata Banerjee’s most trusted lieutenants from a key public office and could further fuel speculation about the state of the TMC as it attempts to rebuild after its electoral defeat and re-establish itself as the principal opposition force in West Bengal.
