Firhad Hakim

Firhad Hakim was born on 1 January 1959 in Kolkata, West Bengal. His grandfather migrated from Bihar, and his father, Abdul Hakim, worked as a law officer for the Kolkata Port Trust. Hakim graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree from Heramba Chandra College before entering active politics. He is married to Ismat Hakim, and they have three daughters.

Hakim began his political career with the Indian National Congress, later joining the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 1998. He was first elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in a by-election from Alipore in 2009, subsequently winning the Kolkata Port seat in 2011 and retaining it in later elections, establishing himself as a prominent TMC figure.

Following the TMC’s victory in the 2011 West Bengal Assembly election, Hakim was inducted into the state cabinet, where he handled portfolios including Urban Development and Municipal Affairs under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He has remained a key minister in subsequent TMC governments, known for his administrative influence in urban and municipal governance.

Hakim has also served as Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation since December 2018, becoming the first Muslim mayor of Kolkata since independence and later being re-appointed to the position following municipal elections. In his dual role as minister and mayor, he has been involved in civic administration and infrastructure initiatives for the city.

As of 2026, he continues his work as both an MLA, Cabinet Minister, and Mayor of Kolkata, shaping urban policy and municipal governance for West Bengal and the city of Kolkata.