Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 29: As per reliable sources, former union minister, vice president of Karnataka State Planning Board, and close confidante of chief minister, Siddaramaiah, C M Ibrahim, is likely to cross over to JD(S) before January 15, 2017. Sources in JD(S) say that Ibrahim has been in constant touch with JD(S) national president, H D Deve Gowda on this issue and his joining process will gain momentum once JD(S) state president, H D Kumaraswamy, returns from his tour of USA.

It is said that if Ibrahim is interested, he would be offered high level posts in the JD(S) including that of state president. As per information, he has been offered the discretion to field candidates of his choice in constituencies where the presence of minority voters is considerable during the next election. Ibrahim is said to have agreed to this offer.

Sources claim that Deve Gowda has asked Ibrahim to consider the prospects of joining JD(S) before Sankranti day next year, which falls on January 14, as the former proposes to undertake tour of the state thereafter to strengthen organizational base of the JD(S). The process will be set into motion as soon as Kumaraswamy comes back from USA.

JD(S) had intensified its efforts to bring this influential minority leader into the party fold after both its MLAs, Iqbal Ansari and Zameer Ahmed, who had good sway over minority voters, distanced themselves from the party after violating the party whip and voting for Congress candidates during Rajya Sabha election. The party is badly in need of someone who can convince minority voters to choose JD(S).

Ibrahim has been disgruntled with Congress leadership of late and was more than willing to join JD(S) when he was invited into it. Several rounds of preliminary discussions have already been held between Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy and Ibrahim to discuss the proposal, it is gathered.