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The development comes at a politically sensitive time for the ruling TMC, which has been battling internal dissent and organisational challenges.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim likely to step down.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, a close aide of former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, wants to step down from his post, sources told News18, adding to the growing signs of unrest within the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Sources said there were murmurs within the party that Firhad Hakim could submit his resignation as early as Thursday, although no official announcement had been made till the time of publishing.
The development comes at a politically sensitive time for the ruling TMC, which has been battling internal dissent and organisational challenges following the recent Assembly elections.
Read more: ‘Mamata Our Leader, Abhishek Has No Role In Assembly’: New Bengal LoP Ritabrata Banerjee
Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that Firhad Hakim had earlier sought permission from party chief Mamata Banerjee to resign from the mayor’s post, citing difficulties in functioning after the BJP came to power in West Bengal. He said as per PTI, “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.”
Firhad Hakim is among the most influential leaders in the TMC and is widely regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest political associates. Apart from serving as Kolkata mayor, he has held several key ministerial responsibilities and remains a prominent face of the party in the state capital. Any move by Hakim to relinquish the mayor’s post is likely to fuel speculation about the state of affairs within the ruling party.
Read more: Trinamool Vs Trinamool: Ritabrata Set For LoP Role As New Opposition Takes Shape In Bengal Assembly
The latest development coincides with a major political controversy in the West Bengal Assembly. At least 58 of the 80 MLAs elected in the recently concluded polls backed expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition. The move came after the TMC appointed senior MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, triggering allegations that signatures on the supporting letter were forged.
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