Mamata Banerjee loyalist Firhad Hakim set to quit as Kolkata Mayor as TMC faces internal revolt

Hakim's decision to resign comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is witnessing increasing organisational unrest, defections and open rebellion from a significant section of its legislators.

The departure of Firhad Hakim from the post of Kolkata Municipal Corporation's (KMC) Mayor marks another significant development in the rapidly evolving political situation within the Trinamool Congress.

In recent weeks, several KMC councillors have reportedly resigned from the party, raising concerns about its organisational strength in its traditional urban stronghold.

Hakim has long been regarded as one of Mamata Banerjee's closest political associates and as one of the most influential leaders in the party's organisational structure.

His resignation comes amid a series of dramatic developments that have reshaped the opposition landscape in West Bengal.

Last month, Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee formally communicated a proposed leadership structure for the party's legislative wing to the office of the Assembly Speaker.

The proposal named Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition, while Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra were designated as deputy leaders of the opposition.

Firhad Hakim was proposed as the Chief Whip of the Trinamool Congress legislature party in the Assembly.

However, the proposed arrangement soon became embroiled in controversy as dissent within the party began to intensify.

Rebellion gains momentum

The internal unrest within the Trinamool Congress gradually developed into a full-scale rebellion, culminating in the emergence of a rival bloc that claims to represent the party's "real" legislative wing.

On Wednesday, a group of dissident legislators met Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose and submitted letters of support backing expelled TMC MLA Ritabrata Banerjee for the post of Leader of the Opposition.

According to the rebel camp, 58 legislators endorsed Ritabrata Banerjee's candidature.

The move effectively challenged the leadership structure earlier proposed by the party's central leadership and underscored the scale of the rebellion within the organisation.

Majority of TMC legislators back rebel camp

The numbers presented by the dissident group indicate that a substantial majority of Trinamool legislators have sided with the rebel faction.

Out of the party's 80 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly, 58 are reportedly backing the camp led by expelled legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha.

The development has significantly altered the balance of power within the party and intensified speculation about the future direction of the Trinamool Congress.

The rebel legislators have maintained that they represent the authentic legislative voice of the party while challenging decisions taken by the existing leadership.

Crisis deepens after election defeat

The latest developments come barely a month after the Trinamool Congress suffered a heavy defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.

Since then, the party has faced a series of setbacks, including resignations, public disagreements and growing dissatisfaction among elected representatives.

Firhad Hakim's resignation as Kolkata Mayor now adds another chapter to the ongoing political turbulence within the party, as the leadership confronts one of its most significant organisational challenges in recent years.

With a majority of legislators aligning with the rebel faction and key organisational figures stepping aside from prominent positions, the internal struggle within the Trinamool Congress continues to evolve rapidly in the aftermath of the Assembly election results.