They Don't Have The Right To Sack Me As JDS President: CM Ibrahim

CM Ibrahim, who was ousted from his position as State President of the Janata Dal Secular (JDS), has criticized the decision as a "misguided move" and urged party supremo HD Devegowda to reconsider his removal from the said role.

He has warned that there would be consequences in the days ahead if the decision is not withdrawn."It's not possible to remove me as president. They don't have the right. According to the JDS Constitution, one-third of them must give me notice, call a meeting and pass a no-confidence motion in a meeting against me. That's the procedure," Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

He expressed his intent to initiate a legal challenge against the decision and to formally communicate his concerns to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

"Don't trigger me. Wait and watch what will unfold from now. We will go to the Election Commission, high court and take a stay. Kerala and Tamil Nadu workers will also join hands. Deve Gowda is a father figure to me. Is this what you do to your son? I left my MLC post for you. How many houses do you want to ruin? Yesterday, you made Thippeswamy call me to discuss the alliance decision. What happened to Duryodhan in Mahabharat will happen to JD(S) in Karnataka," he added.

He further 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.

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 remarked, "Now for the sake of your son (HD Kumaraswamy) who has been made ad hoc President of JDS in Karnataka), you have sacrificed me." He questioned Devegowda "Why JDS MLA GT Devegowda (a senior party leader) was not made the JDS President (instead of Kumaraswamy)?"

He then said, "You should not have provoked me. Since you have provoked me, you will have to face the consequences."

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday removed the party's Karnataka unit president C M Ibrahim after he raised a banner of revolt against forming an alliance with the BJP, by dissolving the state working committee.

Gowda also appointed his son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy as the ad-hoc president of the party's state unit.

Kumaraswamy, a two-time Karnataka chief minister, is also the party's legislative unit president.