Deve Gowda expels CM Ibrahim as state JD(S) president post, H D Kumaraswamy is new chief

BENGALURU: Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Thursday expelled C M Ibrahim as party state party president and dissolved all party units in the state as he had opposed the alliance with the BJP. Deve Gowda also appointed H D Kumaraswamy as the new state party president and handed over an official letter to the latter.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Deve Gowda said, “We are making Kumaraswamy the state president till the election. All party units, including CM Ibrahim’s position as state president, are dissolved. Thippeswamy has been appointed as party secretary and some office-bearers will be appointed along with Kumaraswamy. It will be finalised within three days after consulting with leaders and an announcement official announcement will be made”.

“Kumaraswamy has given conducted several programmes including the Pancharatna Yatra and Jaladhara programme. For all these reasons, his leadership has been recognised at the national level”, Deve Gowda added. “Roshan Gouribidanur and former minister Altaf extended their support. Many Muslims are with us, and we have no shortage of minorities. There is no need to panic”, Deve Gowda added.

Reacting to his expulsion, Ibrahim said, “They have no power to remove me, they have to first issue notice with the approval of two-thirds of members of the Executive Committee. It has been proven that Deve Gowda is possessive about his son. They pissed me off; just wait and see what will be the consequences”, he warned.

He further said, “I will question H D Deve Gowda’s decision before the Election Commission. Until today, I considered him my father. I left my MLC seat and joined JD(S). ‘Kalaya Tasmai Namah’. This is extreme. Whatever happened in the Mahabharata, it will happen with JD(S)”, he stressed.

“I was not invited to today’s meeting. I don’t know about the meeting. Don’t drag me to the street. What authority do you have to chair an ad-hoc meeting? This is not right and people will stand by me. I have no desire for power. Just stop the drama here and withdraw the expulsion order”, Ibrahim insisted on the JD(S).

Countering Deve Gowda’s decision, he said, “Finally, you people (Gowda and family) have shown that JD(S) is family property. Doesn’t Gowda have some sense? I am a senior and I joined JD(S) afer quitting my MLC post. Didn’t you feel you should talk to me before taking the decision? Kumaraswamy would not have won if I had not left Channapatna. I will not leave this issue, I will hold meetings in Hassan, Mandya”.

Questioning Deve Gowda as to which Vokkaliga children he had uplifted, Ibrahim said, “The coundown has begun for the Mahabharata. I ensured his son’s victory by working day and night and now they have given me a good reward. My next step is Janata Dal and I will not leave it.  The real Janata Dal is ours; most MLAs are with us. I will call a meeting of MLAs when the time comes”.

Further, he said, “Deve Gowda is upset that I did not blame Siddaramaiah, Why should I blame him? There is no enmity with the CM. I don’t think there is anything wrong with leaving the Congress. Let their notice first reach me. My son died during the Hubli Idgah Maidan riots but I stood with JD(S). They could have made at least G T Deve Gowda the president instead of me. I will approach the High Court and seek an injunction”.

“Deve Gowda did not allow anyone, including Vokkaligas, to grow. Whatever he did was only for him and his children. My ouster is not an anti-minority move. Because I am a Kannadiga, I am not limited to one caste. Kannada people are on my side, people will answer them. The JD(S) cannot be dissolved because ours is a real Janata Dal. I will also fight before the Election Commission alongside a legal battle”, Ibrahim added.