Gowda sacks Ibrahim, HDK is JD(S) chief

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Thursday removed the party's Karnataka unit president and his close aide C M Ibrahim, days after the latter raised a banner of revolt against the party's decision to forge an alliance with BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Gowda dissolved the state working committee and appointed his son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy as its ad-hoc president. Ibrahim reacted sharply to his sacking and warned of mounting a legal challenge against it, besides asserting he will reach out to the people.

Upset with the removal, he termed Gowda's decision as "Vinasha Kaale Vipareeta Buddhi" (As the doom approaches, one's intelligence functions perversely).

Addressing a press conference here, Gowda said, "Ibrahim has been removed as per the party constitution. I have removed him, and the new president Kumaraswamy has been appointed."

Gowda's action came after Ibrahim revolted against the party's decision to strike an electoral pact with the BJP.