Karnataka: Senior Congress leader Ibrahim to be Muslim face of JD(S)?

Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader, C M Ibrahim, who met Janata Dal (S) supremo, Deve Gowda on Monday ostensibly to wish him on the occasion of Sankranthi, is likely to join that party once the elections to the state assembly are announced, according to sources.

It is believed the JD(S) could welcome Mr Ibrahim back into its fold as it lacks a credible Muslim face, although it has made inroads into the Muslim community in the Old Mysuru and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions. While Mr Ibrahim may not hold much sway over his community votes, he could liven up the JD(S)'s public campaigns through his presence, say observers.

Mr Ibrahim, who was the country's Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Information and Broadcasting in the nineties, had migrated to the Congress from JD(S) with CM Siddaramaiah, but after losing from Bhadravathi in the last poll he has felt sidelined despite being made deputy chairman of the state planning board, a post he seemd not keen on.

He always wanted to be nominated to the Legislative Council and got his wish when he was made MLC for about a year following the death of BJP MLC, Vimala Gowda.