Firhad Hakim (Trinamool Congress), a prominent political figure and trusted aide to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is gearing up for his fourth consecutive term as a legislator from the Kolkata Port constituency in the 2026 elections. He will be contesting against Rakesh Singh from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Hakim has a long political history, starting as a councillor in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in the late 1990s and rising to prominence after winning a by-election in 2009. Since 2011, he has been a significant player in West Bengal politics, serving as the minister for urban development, municipal affairs, and housing.

However, his career has not been without controversy. Hakim was implicated in the Narada sting operation, facing allegations of bribery, which he has dismissed as a political conspiracy. He has been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and has two FIRs lodged against him related to the case, which are still under consideration in a Kolkata court. Additionally, he faced scrutiny in 2016 for comments made in an interview with a Pakistani newspaper, which he claimed were misquoted. Born on January 1, 1959, Hakim is affectionately known as “Bobby” and has a background in commerce, holding a B.Com degree from Heramba Chandra College.