Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Jan 3: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has managed to convince his friend C M Ibrahim to remain in Congress. For that Siddaramaiah had to go all the way to Ibrahim’s house where they had lunch together.

It was a win-win situation for C M Ibrahim as he was allowed to retain his post as vice-chairman of the State Planning Board.

Ibrahim, known to be a party-hopper, had been threatening to quit the Congress and join the JD(S) since past some months.

Ibrahim was supposed to resign as vice-chairman in October last year. The ruling Congress party had nominated its functionaries, including Ibrahim, as heads of various boards and corporations for only two years. Though almost all the functionaries quit their posts, Ibrahim refused to do so. Instead, he threatened to quit the party. It is said that Siddaramaiah had plans to appoint V R Sudarshan in place of Ibrahim.

Ibrahim has been a close associate of Siddaramaiah. He had identified himself with Ahinda movement led by Siddaramaiah in 2005 and subsequently quit the JD(S) and joined the Congress. They have been friends since long time.

Ibrahim later told media that he has no plan to quit the Congress. “The next Assembly election in 2018 will be fought under Siddaramaiah’s leadership,” he said.