Kolkata: In a significant development amid growing internal strife within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), party supremo Mamata Banerjee has convened an urgent meeting of all councillors at her Kalighat residence. This move comes against the backdrop of widespread speculation about deepening fault lines within the party, with several TMC councillors resigning en masse in various parts of West Bengal, and at least one high-profile councillor quitting in Kolkata.
Mayor Firhad Hakim's Resignation Intent
Sources indicate that Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has expressed his desire to step down from his position and has formally communicated his intent to party chief Mamata Banerjee. The emergency closed-door meeting is scheduled for 4 pm on Friday at Banerjee's home, and it will be held in the presence of party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
Political Turmoil After Assembly Elections
The political turmoil within the TMC follows the recent assembly election results, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not only won 207 seats in Bengal but also secured 6 out of 11 assembly seats within Kolkata. The BJP also led in 102 out of the 144 municipal wards in the city, indicating a significant shift in voter sentiment.
Controversial Demolition Notice Triggers Crisis
The internal crisis peaked following a series of controversial moves by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) building department. The department issued a demolition notice to Abhishek Banerjee's residence without the mayor's knowledge. Mayor Hakim later stated that the matter was outside his jurisdiction. Sources revealed that this incident made Hakim feel insulted and cornered, prompting his decision to resign.
Implications for KMC Elections
While the KMC elections are officially slated for December, rules permit the state government to advance the timeline. Political analysts suggest that the newly formed state government may bypass appointing an administrator if important resignations do occur. Instead, the government could dissolve the board to push for early civic polls, potentially capitalizing on the current political climate.
TMC's Street Protest and Absentee MLAs
On Thursday, the TMC staged a street protest for the first time since its electoral defeat. However, only three MLAs — Kunal Ghosh, Nayana Banerjee, and Madan Mitra — were seen at Sealdah station, demonstrating with a handful of supporters against hawker evictions. This comes even as protests against hawker evictions were planned at Howrah, Sealdah, and Ballygunge stations. In Howrah, police denied permission to the TMC's protest due to a programme of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, according to sources. No permission was granted for the Ballygunge station protest either.
On Wednesday, 46 out of 80 MLAs were absent from the TMC's sit-in protest at the assembly, highlighting the party's internal challenges.
Additional Information
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