Hakim files nomination for ward 82 bypoll

Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim filed his nomination on Friday, for the by-

election in ward 82 which is scheduled to be held on January 6, 2019.

The seat fell vacant after sitting Trinamool Congress councillor of ward 82 Pranab Biswas resigned on health grounds. The octogenarian councillor had submitted his resignation to KMC chairperson Mala Roy a few days ago.

Hakim said Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has asked him to

contest from ward 82 and he would do his best to serve the people.

Hakim, who is the state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, became a councillor in 2000. Later, he became Member, Mayor-in-Council (Roads).

Trinamool has 121 councillors in the 144 member civic board. It had 122 members when the civic election was held in 2015. Sailen Dasgupta of ward 117 died, the by-election for which will be held on December 16. There are 14 Left Front councillors, while BJP and Congress have 5 and 2 respectively.

The amendment to the KMC Act, 1980 stipulates that a Mayor can be a non-councillor but he or she will have to win a by-election within 6 months after resuming office.