Changaai Mangalote Ibrahim (born 14 August 1948) is an Indian politician and was the president of Janata Dal (Secular) Karnataka. He was formerly an Indian National Congress (INC) politician. He was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council.[1][2] He joined Janata Dal (Secular) and is serving as its State President from 17 April 2022 till he dismissed.[3][4][5]

Changaai Mangalote Ibrahim
Ibrahim addressing a rally in November 2019
State President of Janata Dal (Secular), Karnataka
In office
2022–2023
Preceded byH. D. Kumaraswamy
Minister of Tourism
In office
2 June 1996 – 22 April 1997
Prime MinisterDeve Gowda
I. K. Gujral
Preceded byV. Dhananjay Kumar
Succeeded bySrikant Kumar Jena
Minister of Civil Aviation
In office
22 April 1997 – 19 March 1998
Prime MinisterI. K. Gujral
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byAnanth Kumar
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
In office
2 June 1996 – 1 May 1997
Prime MinisterDeve Gowda
I. K. Gujral
Preceded bySushma Swaraj
Succeeded byJaipal Reddy
Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council
In office
24 August 2017 – 5 August 2022
Preceded byVimala Gowda
Succeeded byBaburao Chinchansur
Personal details
Born
Chand Mahal Ibrahim

(1948-08-14) 14 August 1948 (age 76)
Airani, Karnataka, India
Political partyJanata Dal (Secular)
Other political
affiliations
Indian National Congress
All India Progressive Janata Dal
Janata Party
OccupationPolitician

Career

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Ibrahim was said to have been first spotted in 1967 when he was 12, by the former Chief Minister of Karnataka S. Nijalingappa, where he was found giving election speeches as part of the campaign for his father's friend, who was contesting on an INC ticket. Nijalingappa entrusted him to another former Chief Minister Veerendra Patil two years later following the split of INC. It was with Patil that Ibrahim later "stayed till [the former's] death."[2]

Upon finishing schooling, Ibrahim stayed with the INC, later shifting to the Janata Parivar alliance, winning his seat at the 1978 legislative assembly election contesting from the latter's Janata Party ticket. He shifted allegiance to INC two years after, only to quit and join the All India Progressive Janata Dal,[6] and then the Janata Dal (Secular). He held portfolios of Civil Aviation and Tourism and Information and Broadcasting in the Deve Gowda and Gujral government, formed respectively in 1996 and 1997 at the centre.[2] After falling out with JD(S)' leadership, he re-joined the INC in 2008.[7]

In 2023, Ibrahim made his decision to step down prior to the convening of the JD(S) national executive committee meeting.[8]

Controversies

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1986 Riots

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Karnataka Police have charged cases against him for making Hate speech which instigated riots in Bangalore and Tumkur following a controversy over title of an article that appeared in Deccan Herald on 7th December 1986.[9] The riots caused death of 17 people.[10]

TATA-Singapore Airlines controversy

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In 1997, Ibrahim denied permission for a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines to operate a domestic airline in India. Ibrahim claimed that his reasons were ideological, as he was opposed to foreign investment in the Indian aviation sector.[11] However, at the time, a senior bureaucrat accused the Aviation ministry of being "a malign influence",[11] and there were allegations that Ibrahim was protecting the private carrier Jet Airways.[12][13][14] On 15 November 2010, Ratan Tata, the head of the Tata group alleged that, during the 1990s, a minister had asked for a bribe of INR 15 crore (US$3.3 million approx) to clear a proposed venture with Singapore Airlines, but he had refused to pay the bribe.[15][16] Although Tata did not name Ibrahim as the offending minister, sections of the media speculated that the minister Tata was referring to may have been Ibrahim. Ibrahim denied the allegation.[17]

Star DTH controversy

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As Information & Broadcasting Minister, Ibrahim denied Star Television permission to operate a Direct to Home (DTH) service in India. It was alleged that Ibrahim had overruled other ministers and was protecting the interests of Star's rival Zee Television, who he granted permission to operate a DTH network.[18][19][20]

Voting bribery controversy

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On 1 September 2010, while campaigning in his home state, Ibrahim alleged that Katta Subramanya Naidu, a politician from the rival Bharatiya Janata Party was bribing voters. He told voters: "Take the stack of currency given by Katta Subramanya Naidu without any second thought but do not fail to cast vote for Congress.".[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Ibrahim elected unopposed". The Hindu. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Cong gets C M Ibrahim into council". The Times of India. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Former Karnataka Congress leader CM Ibrahim joins JDS". Janta Ka Reporter 2.0. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  4. ^ "C M Ibrahim to take over as JD(S) prez on April 17". Deccan Herald. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  5. ^ Shankar, B. V. Shiva (17 April 2022). "mlc: MLC CM Ibrahim takes over as JD(S) president for Karnataka". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Biodata of C.M. Ibrahim" (PDF). karnataka.gov.in. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  7. ^ "C.M. Ibrahim rejoins Congress". The Hindu. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  8. ^ Belur, Rashmi. "C M Ibrahim steps down as JD(S) state president". Deccan Herald.
  9. ^ "Bangalore communal riots: Janata Party accuses Congress(I) for bringing things to a boil". India Today. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Violence stalks Karnataka as mobs of Muslims battle it out with police in Bangalore, Mysore". India Today. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Rediff On The Net Business News: Aviation Minister Chand Mahal Ibrahim on the Tata-SIA proposal and other related issues". Rediff.com. 19 February 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Why did C M Ibrahim scuttle the Tata-SIA project?". Rediff. 23 April 1997. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Favouritism in air - The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  14. ^ Barman, Arijit (29 April 2002). "The Last Jet Engine Sigh". India: Outlook. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Didn't want to bribe our way into airline business: Tata : Corporate News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Minister wanted Rs 15-cr bribe for aviation permit: Tata". Indian Express. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  17. ^ "C.M. Ibrahim Dares Tata to Name the Minister". news.outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  18. ^ "Rediff On The Net Business News: C M Ibrahim and the fate of the Tata-SIA project". Rediff.com. 23 April 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  19. ^ "Rediff On The Net Business News: C M Ibrahim and the fate of Star TV's DTH project". Rediff.com. 23 April 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Heavyweight Measures". www.outlookindia.com. 18 June 1997. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  21. ^ "Take money from BJP, but vote for Congress: C M Ibrahim". Deccanherald.com. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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