Firhad Hakim new Kolkata mayor after Sovan's exit

West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim was elected the new mayor of Kolkata Thursday after Sovan Chatterjee resigned from the post on the directions of Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of KMC councillors, where senior party leaders, including Banerjee, were present.

Hakim will be the first mayor of the city from the minority community since Independence.

Atin Ghosh, a mayor-in-council, will be the new deputy mayor replacing Iqbal Ahmed, who is ill for the past few months.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Chatterjee, who had resigned as minister for fire services and housing on Tuesday, was absent from the meeting
Asked about the causes behind the chief minister's direction for his resignation, Chatterjee said, "I don't know the reasons."
To a question about an alleged setback in his personal life, Chatterjee said, "Some people are intentionally spreading nuisance."