Ibrahim keeps post after threatening to join JD(S)

Disgruntled Congress leader C M Ibrahim on Monday succeeded in retaining his post as vice chairman of the State Planning Board after driving a hard bargain. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who on Monday met Ibrahim at his residence over lunch, agreed to allow him to continue in the post. Ibrahim, who is known as a party-hopper in political circles, had been threatening to quit the Congress and join the JD(S).

Ibrahim was supposed to resign as vice chairman in October last year. The ruling Congress had nominated its functionaries, including Ibrahim, as heads of various boards and corporations for only two years. Though almost all the functionaries quit their posts, Ibrahim refused to do so. Instead, he threatened to quit the party, sources in the Congress said.

Close associate
Ibrahim has been a close associate of Siddaramaiah. He had identified himself with Ahinda (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) movement led by Siddaramaiah in 2005 and subsequently quit the JD(S) and joined the Congress.

Later, Ibrahim told reporters he has no plan to quit the Congress. The next Assembly election in 2018 will be fought under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, he said. He, however, evaded a question on whether he would join the JD(S) in future. Siddaramaiah said Ibrahim will not leave the Congress.