B’luru: CM Ibrahim to resign as MLC, leave Congress on Feb 14, will join JD(S)

Bengaluru: Former Union Minister and Congress MLC C.M. Ibrahim announced on Saturday that he would resign from the Vidhana Parishad membership on February 14.

He would join JD(S), but the date of joining is yet to be decided. “I have already held a meeting of leaders in Mysuru and Bangaluru,” he said.

There was also an invitation from the Samajwadi Party, Ibrahim said. However, he chose to join JD(S) as a majority of his followers favored him joining JD(S).

Further, he would also launch “ALINGO” (Alpasankhyata, Lingayat, and Gowda communities) movement to “teach a fitting lesson” to the Congress party. The ALINGO movement will counter AHINDA (Alpasankhyata, Hindulidavaru, and Dalit) strategy of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he said.

Ibrahim cited the decision of the party to deny him the post of Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council as the chief reason for him quitting the national party. “Congress leaders have a tendency to believe that Muslims have no other option but to vote for the Congress in the elections,” he lamented.

Further, he alleged that the Congress Government led by Mr. Siddaramaiah denied not only funds but also positions to Muslim leaders who represent  21 percent of the Muslim population in the state.

He accused the Congress party of denying proper representation to Muslim leaders in the party and positions in the government.