NDTV, Kolkata :
Firhad Hakim, a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government who holds important portfolios like urban development and municipal affairs, has been named as the new mayor of Kolkata.
Amid much speculation, Hakim was named for the top post of Kolkata’s civic body after Sovan Chatterjee stepped down on Thursday afternoon.
On Monday, Chatterjee had resigned as minister in the state government. Following the sudden move, chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked him to quit as mayor.
“He has sent his resignation through a representative,” Kolkata Municipal Corporation Chairperson Mala Roy told reporters.
At at press conference after his resignation, Chatterjee said he is also ready to resign as a corporator. He is also a legislator from the important Behala East constituency in south Kolkata.
Hakim was named for the post after a bill was passed on Thursday afternoon in the state assembly which enabled a non-corporator to be appointed as mayor of the civic body. The person, however, after being appointed as mayor has to get elected as a corporator of the civic body within six months.
Firhad Hakim, a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government who holds important portfolios like urban development and municipal affairs, has been named as the new mayor of Kolkata.
Amid much speculation, Hakim was named for the top post of Kolkata’s civic body after Sovan Chatterjee stepped down on Thursday afternoon.
On Monday, Chatterjee had resigned as minister in the state government. Following the sudden move, chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked him to quit as mayor.
“He has sent his resignation through a representative,” Kolkata Municipal Corporation Chairperson Mala Roy told reporters.
At at press conference after his resignation, Chatterjee said he is also ready to resign as a corporator. He is also a legislator from the important Behala East constituency in south Kolkata.
Hakim was named for the post after a bill was passed on Thursday afternoon in the state assembly which enabled a non-corporator to be appointed as mayor of the civic body. The person, however, after being appointed as mayor has to get elected as a corporator of the civic body within six months.
