Ousted JDS President Terms Dissolution “A Wrong Step”

Bengaluru: Terming his ouster as State President of Janata Dal Secular (JDS) “a wrong step,” ousted State President C.M. Ibrahim on Thursday asked national president of JDS and former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda to take back the decision to sack him as the JDS president otherwise he would have to face the repercussions in coming days.

Stating that he cannot be removed as the President of JDS as per the Constitution of JDS which requires a meeting of the members to move a no confidence motion against him to dislodge from the post and “That’s the rule.” He said to wage a legal battle against the decision and also write to the Election Commission of India (ECI) over it.

Apart from his ouster, he said, “Not even an ad hoc President could be appointed as the provisions of the party” and claimed that he is still the JDS President and staked claim over JDS.

Reacting to his ouster, Ibrahim told Devegowda that “I stood by you to resolve the Idgah Maidan row in Hubballi (when Devegowda was the Chief Minister of Karnataka) despite losing my son. I made your government stable then.”

Continuing, he said, “Now for the sake of your son (H.D. Kumaraswamy) who has been made ad hoc President of JDS in Karnataka), you have sacrificed me.” He questioned Devegowda “Why JDS MLA G.T. Devegowda (a senior party leader) was not made the JDS President (instead of Kumaraswamy)?”

He told Devegowda that “You should not have provoked me. Since you have provoked me, you will have to face the consequences.”  To a query, Ibrahim said he was kept in the dark over alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and stated “Show me where is the resolution copy?.” He said “Why do you (Devegowda) lie at the age of 92.”