Former Union minister C M Ibrahim to fill Sharief’s shoes?

Bengaluru: Has the Congress finally decided to dump former Union railway minister, C. K. Jaffer Sharief, who has been giving it some trying moments of late?  

Indicating that it may have, the  Congress  has reportedly chosen former Union minister, C. M. Ibrahim as its star campaigner in Muslim dominated constituencies across the country in the remaining four phases of the Lok Sabha elections.

If it goes ahead with the move, it could be a comeback of sorts for Mr Ibrahim, who lost the last assembly election from Bhadravati constituency by a humiliating 56,041 votes. Should he be chosen the party’s star Muslim campaigner, he will have  Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and AICC general secretary, B. K. Hariprasad to thank as they  reportedly persuaded the high command  to let him campaign on behalf of the party’s candidates  in the Hindi heartland.

A senior leader  of the party claims  the move is a clear indication that the Congerss is trying to fill Mr Sharief's shoes.

“Though Mr Ibrahim is seen as the biggest critic of late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi and often criticised AICC president Sonia Gandhi in the  years before he joined the party, the wheels of fortune seem to have turned in his favour now. Moreover, he has kept a low profile after his humiliating defeat in the last assembly elections from Bhadravati,”  he noted.

In his view,  being a good speaker, Mr Ibrahim  could make a difference these elections  and use the opportunity to get closer to the party high command.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mr Siddarmaiah and KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwara have already begun campaigning for  party candidates in Tamil Nadu.