TMC Fractures Deepen as Firhad Hakim Signals BJP Cooperation

Former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has publicly praised the development agenda of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, marking a striking pivot toward the BJP. This shift arrives as the Trinamool Congress faces a systemic internal revolt, with dozens of lawmakers actively seeking to break ranks and join the Nationalist Citizens Party of India.

Editorial·June 16, 2026·reads: 298

TMC Fractures Deepen as Firhad Hakim Signals BJP Cooperation

Hakim’s overture to the BJP, voiced during an ANI interview alongside Adhikari, signals a strategic abandonment of traditional party rigidities in favor of administrative collaboration. By prioritizing local growth over partisan barriers, the former mayor has positioned himself at the center of an unfolding realignment that threatens the stability of the TMC leadership. His rhetoric reflects a broader disillusionment spreading through the party’s ranks.

The scale of the insurgency is significant: 58 MLAs and 20 Lok Sabha MPs have declared open rebellion, while three Rajya Sabha members have already submitted their resignations. The dissident faction of 20 MPs has formally petitioned to merge with the NCPI, a move currently awaiting a final ruling from Speaker Om Birla. Birla is expected to hold consultations with both the official leadership and the defectors before determining the legal status of the split, a decision that could permanently alter the political landscape of Bengal.