Firhad Hakim meets LoP Ritabrata, sparks speculation

Senior Trinamul Congress leader and former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim met Opposition leader Ritabrata Banerjee at his chamber in the Assembly on Monday, triggering fresh political speculation amid the ongoing turmoil within the party.

Hakim arrived at the Assembly in a private vehicle and visited Banerjee’s office along with MLA Sandipan Saha, who is associated with the party’s dissident camp.

Advertisement

However, details of the discussion between the leaders have not yet been made public. Neither Firhad Hakim nor Ritabrata Banerjee has issued any statement regarding the meeting.

The development comes at a time when the Trinamul Congress is facing internal challenges, with reports of divisions within its parliamentary wing.

Hakim, long regarded as one of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s closest associates and a key organisational figure in the party, has stood by the Trinamul leadership through several political battles.

Despite the party’s poor performance in the 2026 Assembly elections, Hakim retained significant public support and was elected as an MLA.

Unlike several dissident leaders, he had largely refrained from publicly criticising the party leadership and continued to attend meetings convened by Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence.

The thing started to take a different turn when, on Friday, Hakim resigned from the post of Mayor after serving for eight years.

At a press conference following his resignation, he thanked the Trinamul chief and said he felt politically weakened, comparing his situation to that of a powerless figure.

He maintained that stepping down was necessary in the interest of the people.

Later that day, he attended a meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s residence.

However, just three days later, his meeting with the Opposition leader has fuelled speculation about a possible shift in his political stance.

Questions are being raised over whether Hakim is distancing himself from Mamata Banerjee during a difficult phase for the party.

Political observers have also recalled Hakim’s recent participation in a meeting with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna.

Reports suggested that the two leaders had interacted during the meeting, leading to speculation that relations between Hakim and the Trinamul leadership had cooled in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee is reportedly backed by 58 MLAs, adding to discussions about a possible realignment within the state’s political landscape.

Whether Hakim’s latest meeting signals a significant political move remains unclear, but it has undoubtedly intensified speculation over the future balance of power within the Trinamul Congress.