Trinamool Zilla Parishad chief, municipality head quit in West Bengal
Synopsis
Three TMC-run civic bodies lost their heads on a single day in West Bengal — the East Midnapore Zilla Parishad, Katwa Municipality, and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The simultaneous departures, one citing health, one citing 'changed situation,' and one unexplained, signal unusual organisational turbulence inside the ruling party.
Key Takeaways
Uttam Barik , President of the TMC-run East Midnapore Zilla Parishad , resigned on 5 June and submitted his letter to the divisional commissioner.
Acceptance of Barik's resignation is expected within 7 to 8 days after a formal hearing.
Kamalakanta Chakraborty , Chairman of Katwa Municipality in East Burdwan, resigned the same day citing ill health.
Firhad Hakim formally quit as KMC Mayor on Friday after announcing his intent earlier in the week and seeking Mamata Banerjee's permission.
All three posts are in TMC-controlled bodies; the state government must now decide between fresh elections or administrator appointments.
In a fresh setback for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), the President of the party-run East Midnapore Zilla Parishad and the Chairman of the Katwa Municipality in East Burdwan district resigned from their respective posts on Friday, 5 June. The twin resignations compound political pressure on the TMC as it navigates a rapidly shifting landscape in West Bengal.
Zilla Parishad President Steps Down
Uttam Barik, President of the TMC-run East Midnapore Zilla Parishad, submitted his resignation letter to the divisional commissioner of the district on Friday afternoon. Notably, East Midnapore is the native district of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, lending the development additional political weight.
Barik confirmed the resignation but indicated the formal acceptance process would take another seven to eight days, pending a hearing. He declined to specify the reason behind his decision. 'Now it is up to the state government whether it would appoint any other elected Zilla Parishad member in my chair or put the Zilla Parishad under an administrator,' Barik said.
Katwa Municipality Chairman Cites Health
Kamalakanta Chakraborty, Chairman of the TMC-run Katwa Municipality, submitted his resignation later the same day, citing deteriorating health. 'My physical condition is not good at all. Due to illness, I can no longer fulfill my duties as Chairman of the municipality. Therefore, I have decided to resign,' Chakraborty said.
Firhad Hakim Formally Quits as KMC Mayor
The resignations came on the same day that Firhad Hakim, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor and former minister in the West Bengal Cabinet led by Mamata Banerjee, formally tendered his resignation from the mayoral chair. Hakim had announced his intent earlier in the week and sought Banerjee's permission before making it official.
Explaining his departure, Hakim said: 'The chair of the Mayor of KMC has a different sort of dignity considering the great personalities who occupied the chair before me. I had worked with full authority as a Mayor for a long time, since I was the Mayor and also handled the state municipal affairs and urban development department then. I single-handedly managed the dual duties. But in the changed situation that is not possible anymore. So, I do not want to insult the chair anymore.'
What This Signals for TMC
The cluster of resignations on a single day — spanning a district-level body, a municipal body, and the state's most prominent civic post — points to mounting organisational stress within the TMC. This comes amid a broader political churn in West Bengal following recent electoral shifts. Whether the state government fills these vacancies through elections or installs administrators will be closely watched as a signal of the party's ground-level strength.
Point of View
The absence of a reason is itself a statement. Hakim's departure from the KMC mayorship is equally pointed — his reference to a 'changed situation' and not wanting to 'insult the chair' reads as a barely veiled commentary on diminished authority. The TMC now faces a choice between holding by-elections it may not be confident of winning, or installing administrators that would expose the governance vacuum. Neither option is comfortable.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who resigned from the East Midnapore Zilla Parishad?
Uttam Barik, the President of the TMC-run East Midnapore Zilla Parishad, resigned on 5 June 2025 and submitted his letter to the divisional commissioner. The formal acceptance is expected within seven to eight days after a hearing.
Why did Kamalakanta Chakraborty resign as Katwa Municipality Chairman?
Chakraborty cited poor health as the reason for his resignation, stating he could no longer fulfil his duties as Chairman of the Katwa Municipality in East Burdwan district.
Why did Firhad Hakim resign as KMC Mayor?
Firhad Hakim said the 'changed situation' made it impossible for him to exercise full authority as Mayor the way he once had, and he did not want to 'insult the chair.' He had sought Mamata Banerjee's permission before formally resigning on 5 June.
What happens to these civic bodies now?
According to Barik, the state government must decide whether to appoint another elected Zilla Parishad member to the chair or place the body under an administrator. The same choice applies to the Katwa Municipality and KMC mayorship.
Why are these resignations politically significant?
All three posts belong to TMC-controlled civic bodies, and the resignations occurred on the same day. East Midnapore is the native district of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, making the Zilla Parishad development particularly sensitive for the party.
