Hours after Suvendu Adhikari took oath as West Bengal’s new Chief Minister, political tremors appear to have reached the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) as well. In a move that sparked intense speculation inside the civic body, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim reportedly exited two important WhatsApp groups used for internal municipal coordination, triggering fresh buzz over shifting power equations in Bengal after the BJP’s dramatic rise in the state.
According to sources within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Hakim left the two groups on Saturday morning, the very day the new BJP government formally assumed office in the state. The groups were reportedly used for ward-level administrative coordination and for communicating instructions related to civic operations among municipal employees and officials.
The sudden exit has left many within the civic administration puzzled. Employees associated with the groups were reportedly caught off guard, especially because the Mayor had regularly used these platforms to oversee civic work and communicate with different departments.
Despite the growing speculation, Firhad Hakim has not issued any official statement explaining his decision to leave the groups.
The development comes against the backdrop of a major political shift in West Bengal. The BJP’s sweeping electoral gains across Kolkata and several urban constituencies have significantly altered the political atmosphere in the state. In more than 100 wards under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area, the Trinamool Congress suffered major setbacks during the Assembly polls.
From Sinthee in north Kolkata to Joka, Tollygunge and Garia in the south, voting patterns reflected a clear swing toward the BJP. Political observers believe many urban voters backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and voted overwhelmingly for the saffron party, bypassing the promises made by the ruling Trinamool Congress.
The timing of Hakim’s move has therefore become a subject of intense discussion inside the civic body. Municipal elections in Kolkata are officially due later this year in December. However, the newly formed state government has the authority to dissolve the existing municipal board and call early civic elections if it chooses to do so.
Against this politically charged backdrop, the Mayor’s decision to quietly leave internal communication groups on the very day of the new government’s swearing-in has added another layer of intrigue to Bengal’s rapidly changing political landscape.
Leave a Reply