Firhad Hakim resigns as Kolkata Mayor after meeting CM Suvendu Adhikari
Synopsis
Firhad Hakim's resignation as Kolkata Mayor — hours after attending a Nabanna meet called by CM Suvendu Adhikari — signals a deeper churn inside Trinamool. With Tarak Singh already out, Ritabrata Banerjee installed as LoP with 58 MLAs, and all party committees dissolved, Mamata Banerjee appears to be racing to contain a post-poll fracture.
Key Takeaways
Firhad Hakim resigned as Mayor of Kolkata on 3 June after attending CM Suvendu Adhikari's meeting at Nabanna .
He stepped down with the consent of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee , according to party sources.
Hakim was the first Muslim Mayor of the KMC (founded 1876 ) and had held the post since November 2018 .
Tarak Singh had resigned as mayor-in-council a day earlier, citing lack of party protection.
Expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee became Leader of the Opposition with the support of 58 MLAs the same day.
The Trinamool leadership dissolved all state party committees, fuelling speculation of a pre-emptive move against defections.
Trinamool Congress MLA Firhad Hakim on Wednesday, 3 June, resigned as the Mayor of Kolkata, hours after attending an administrative meeting convened by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat Nabanna. According to party sources, the former state minister stepped down after seeking the consent of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.
How the day unfolded
Several Trinamool legislators travelled to Nabanna on Wednesday for a meeting called by Chief Minister Adhikari. Among them was Hakim, the MLA from Kolkata Port. Soon after returning from the secretariat, he tendered his resignation from the mayor's chair, ending a nearly eight-year run in civic and ministerial roles.
What the party said
Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh said Hakim had conveyed to Mamata Banerjee that continuing at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation was untenable in the current climate. ‘The leader forbade him (to resign). But Firhad said that he wanted to resign with dignity. After this, Mamata agreed,' Ghosh said.
A historic tenure ends
Hakim first took charge as Mayor in November 2018, while serving as the state's urban development minister — becoming the first Muslim mayor of the KMC since its founding in 1876. He returned to the post in 2021 as the Kolkata Port MLA and councillor of Ward No. 82. His exit closes a chapter that spanned both ministerial and civic responsibilities.
Tarak Singh's exit set the stage
The resignation follows that of Tarak Singh, who quit as mayor-in-council of the KMC on Tuesday. Singh took aim at Hakim and publicly praised Chief Minister Adhikari, announcing he would not contest future elections on the Trinamool symbol. ‘The party leadership is not providing any protection to its workers and supporters,' he said, adding that he had no wish to ‘sit in that cold room and listen to the words of wisdom.' Reacting at the time, Hakim had said, ‘We work as a team. Whatever we do, we will do together.'
A turbulent day for Trinamool
Wednesday proved eventful for the Trinamool Congress on multiple fronts. Expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee was elected Leader of the Opposition with the backing of 58 MLAs. Soon after, the Trinamool leadership announced the dissolution of all party committees across the state — a move some within the party read as a pre-emptive measure against possible defections.
What's next
Speculation is mounting over whether Mamata Banerjee is preparing to overhaul the student, youth, workers' and women's wings following the party's poor showing in the recent Assembly elections. The coming weeks will test whether the reorganisation can stem further attrition or whether more senior leaders follow Hakim out the door.
Point of View
Ritabrata Banerjee's elevation as LoP with 58 MLAs, and the sudden dissolution of all party committees on the same day are not coincidences; they read like the first visible cracks of a realignment Trinamool insiders have privately warned about for months. The real question is no longer whether the party reorganises, but whether the reorganisation outpaces the exits.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Firhad Hakim resign as Mayor of Kolkata?
Firhad Hakim resigned on 3 June after attending an administrative meeting called by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna. According to TMC sources, he stepped down after seeking permission from party chief Mamata Banerjee, telling colleagues he wanted to ‘resign with dignity.'
How long was Firhad Hakim the Mayor of Kolkata?
Hakim served as Mayor for nearly eight years across two terms. He first took charge in November 2018 as the then urban development minister, becoming the first Muslim mayor of the KMC since its founding in 1876, and returned to the post in 2021 as the Kolkata Port MLA.
What happened to Tarak Singh before Hakim's resignation?
Tarak Singh resigned as mayor-in-council of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on Tuesday, a day before Hakim. He criticised Hakim, praised CM Suvendu Adhikari, and announced he would not contest future elections on the Trinamool symbol.
Who is the new Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal?
Expelled Trinamool MLA Ritabrata Banerjee was elected Leader of the Opposition with the backing of 58 MLAs on the same day Hakim resigned. His elevation came amid a wider churn within the Trinamool Congress.
Why has the Trinamool Congress dissolved all its state committees?
The TMC leadership dissolved all party committees soon after Ritabrata Banerjee's elevation as LoP. Insiders see it as a strategic move by Mamata Banerjee to reorganise the student, youth, workers' and women's wings and pre-empt further defections after the party's Assembly election setback.
