Karnataka - Bangalore   

C.M. Ibrahim rejoins Congress

Bangalore: Former Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim, who is known for enthralling public gatherings with his rabble-rousing speeches, anecdotes and quotations from the Hindu epics was readmitted to the Congress on Friday by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president M. Mallikarjun Kharge.

He had been seeking to rejoin the Congress party for nearly two years after simmering differences with the former Prime Minister and national president of the Janata Dal (Secular), H.D. Deve Gowda.

Mr. Kharge also admitted the former Janata Dal Minister K.B. Mallappa and former MLA Parameswarappa from Arsikere, and a large number of second-rung leaders from the Janata Dal (S) and the erstwhile All India Progressive Janata Dal.

Mr. Mallappa had been a close associate of both the former Chief Minister, late Ramakrishna Hegde, and Mr. Gowda.

Mr. Ibrahim, who first became an MLA in 1978 on the Janata Party ticket, joined the Congress in 1980 and became the Labour Minister in the R. Gundu Rao ministry.

After years of political hibernation, he joined the Janata Dal in the 1990s and became its president . He was the Union Civil Aviation Minister in the H.D. Deve Gowda ministry.

Thereafter, he again walked out of the party, along with former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah two years ago, following differences with Mr. Gowda.

Though he had plans to join the Congress with Mr. Siddaramiah and eight of his colleagues, he did not.

Mr. Kharge said that Mr. Ibrahim’s re-entry into the Congress would boost the morale of the workers and the campaign quality with his speeches, which he had already done in several constituencies.

Among those present, were the former Minister and Bangalore City Unit President J. Alexander, the former Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, Saleem Ahmed, Shivajinagar candidate Roshan Baig and V.S. Ugrappa, MLC.

Mr. Kharge, who launched the election campaign in several constituencies of the city, told presspersons that a large number of youths and women were attending the party campaign, which was an indication that it would come to power. Mr. Kharge also announced the names of the candidates for the following 11 constituencies in north Karnataka region, which would go to the polls in the third phase of elections. Raibag (SC): Omprakash Shankaranand Kanagali, son of the former Union Minister B. Shankaranand; Belgaum North: Firoz Saith; Belgaum South: Sambhaji L. Patil; Ramadurga: P.M. Ashok, replacing N.V. Patil; Gurmitkal: Baburao Chinchansoor; Bidar South: Samad Siddiqui; Bidar: Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli; Hubli-Dharwad East (SC): F.H. Jakkappanavar; Hubli-Dharwad Central: Shanaranna Munavalli; Hubli Dharwad West: Jabbar Khan Honnali; and Hanagal: Manohar Tahsildar.

Mr. Chinchansoor, a former Minister, who represented the Chitapur constituency and Mr. Kharge had exchanged their constituencies, as Gurumitkal has become a general constituency.

Mr. Nagamarapalli, who had raised a banner of revolt following rumours that he would not get the ticket, and who faced a series of personal tragedies, has been accommodated in Bidar. Manohar Tahsildar is a former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Mr. Khan and Mr. Kanagala are also former ministers.

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