Among the Trinamool workers, leaders and supporters who were seen campaigning for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur recently, one face was the most visible – Bengal Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim. However, he is not only campaigning for TMC, he is also the party’s candidate from Kolkata Port constituency.
Al-Hakim is considered a central figure in the state’s urban governance structure. First elected as an MLA from Kolkata Harbor constituency in 2011, he retained the seat in the subsequent Assembly elections, making him a consistent electoral presence in Kolkata politics.
A close associate of Mamata Banerjee, he has been part of the state government since the TMC came to power and has held key portfolios related to urban development and municipal affairs, which are critical for infrastructure and civil administration in the state.
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Besides his ministerial role, he also assumed leadership within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, including serving as Mayor, placing him at the center of governance at both the state and city levels. Its political role is defined by direct participation in the implementation of urban policies, civic administration, and coordination between municipal bodies and the state government. This dual managerial position has made him one of the most influential leaders in infrastructure management in Kolkata.
5 key facts about Farhad Hakim:
- Hakim has been MLA from Kolkata Port since 2011, winning three consecutive Assembly elections (2011, 2016, 2021)
- In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Awadh defeated BJP’s Kishore Gupta by a margin of over 73,000 votes, registering a decisive victory in the constituency.
- He has served as a Cabinet Minister since 2011, managing key departments such as Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, which oversees urban infrastructure, housing and civic administration across the state.
- He has been the 38th Mayor of Kolkata since 2018, and heads the city’s municipal administration.
- He is a member of the National Working Committee of the All India Trinamool Congress, indicating his role in the party’s central decision-making structure.
