Karnataka: Leadership Shake-Up In JD(S) As C M Ibrahim Removed, Kumaraswamy Takes Charge Amidst Critique Of BJP Alliance

C M Ibrahim, the president of the Karnataka unit of Janata Dal (Secular), was removed from his position by H D Deve Gowda, the party's national president and former prime minister.

This move, reported by Hindustan Times, was part of a larger restructuring within the party.

Gowda dissolved the state working committee and appointed his son, H D Kumaraswamy, as the ad-hoc president of the party's state unit.

Kumaraswamy expressed his dedication to strengthening the party and its growth.

The decision came after recent disagreements within the JD(S), particularly regarding its alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Kumaraswamy had criticised Ibrahim's stance and warned of strong measures against him.

Ibrahim, a former union minister, suggested a potential division within the JD(S) party, emphasising his faction's commitment to the party's 'secular' essence.

He stated that those wishing to join them were welcome, and those wishing to leave were free to do so. The situation is expected to impact the number of aligned MLAs on each side.

In September, the JD(S) announced its alliance with the BJP, joining the National Democratic Alliance in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.