C. M. Ibrahim is an Indian politician who served as the President of Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka. Before being associated with this party, he was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council and the Indian National Congress (INC). On 17 April 2022, he joined Janata Dal (Secular) as its State President, until he was dismissed.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Changaai Mangalote Ibrahim [1]ABP News was born as Chand Mahal Ibrahim [2]The Print on Saturday, 14 August 1948 (age 75 years; as of 2023) in Village Airani, District Haveri, Karnataka, India. His zodiac sign is Leo. He completed his Matric from Government High School, Bhadravathi, Karnataka, in 1967. [3]My Neta
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is C.M.K. Ali, and his mother’s name is Bibi Sara.
A picture of CM Ibrahim’s mother
C. M. Ibrahim has three brothers named C.M. Abdul Khader (politician), C.M. Sadiq, and C.M. Rehman (killed in a gang war in May 2013).
A picture of C.M. Abdul Khader
He has a sister.
A picture of CM Ibrahim’s sister
Wife & Children
C. M. Ibrahim is married.
A young CM Ibrahim with his wife
His son, C.M. Fayaz, is a politician.
A picture of C.M. Fayaz
His elder daughter, Shabinaa Sultana, is a consul of the Republic of Tunisia.
CM Ibrahim with his wife and daughter
His younger daughter’s name is Iffa Afsa.
A picture of Iffa Afza
Religion/Religious Views
C. M. Ibrahim follows Islam. In a media interview, he once shared that he did his primary schooling in a Lingayat Mutt and explained his religious views. [4]News18 He said,
The secular, liberal atmosphere of the Lingayat Mutt has deeply influenced me. I am a practising Muslim, who firmly believes in Basava Tatva (the preaching of Basavanna, the 12th-century founder of Lingayat faith).”
Address
CM Ibrahim resides at No. 81, Benson Cross Road, Benson Town, Bangalore-560 046.
Signature
Signature of CM Ibrahim
Career
C. M. Ibrahim’s political journey began in 1967 when he was only 12 years old, delivering election speeches for his father’s friend, an INC candidate. He was noticed by the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, S. Nijalingappa, who introduced him to Veerendra Patil, another former Chief Minister, two years after the split of INC. Ibrahim stayed with Patil until Patil passed away. Ibrahim lost an assembly by-election in the Chanarajpet constituency in Bangalore in 1972. In 1975, when the Emergency was declared in India, he was one of the first opposition leaders in the Karnataka state to be arrested under MISA. When the Emergency ended, he was released and started working as a campaigner for the Janata Party. In 1977, he contested and lost the Lok Sabha seat from the Dharwar South constituency to the Congress(I) candidate F.H. Mohsin.
A young CM Ibrahim in the 1970s
C. M. Ibrahim won a legislative assembly seat in the 1978 election as a Janata Party candidate. He represented Shivajinagar constituency in Bengaluru in the Karnataka Assembly. Initially a supporter of Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao, he gained trust and became a minister in the Indian National Congress during the 1980s. However, he later left to join the All India Progressive Janata Dal and subsequently the Janata Dal (Secular). He served in different roles, including handling portfolios in Civil Aviation and Tourism, as well as Information and Broadcasting, in the governments led by Deve Gowda and Gujral in 1996 and 1997. In 2008, he supported Siddaramaiah and switched to the Congress.
C. M. Ibrahim with Siddaramaiah
C. M. Ibrahim returned to the INC in 2008 after a disagreement with the leadership of JD(S). He was a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 24 August 2017 to 5 August 2022. From 17 April 2022 to his dismissal, he held the position of Karnataka State President for Janata Dal (Secular). In November 2023, former Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda expelled Ibrahim from Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) because of ‘anti-party activities.’ Even though Ibrahim switched between the Congress and the Janata Party, then back to the Congress, and later to the JD(S), by the end of 2023, he did not belong to any party. Reportedly, he was attempting to take control of the party led by Deve Gowda. [5]The Indian Express
Controversies
Ibrahim’s Political Activism, Opposition to Indira Gandhi, and Controversy Over a Gifted Watch
Ibrahim was a political figure who delivered many speeches against Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. He accused her of being a dictator and urged people to vote for Janata. In the early 1980s, a heated discussion occurred in the Karnataka Legislative Council, where A.K. Subbiah criticized Ibrahim’s wealth, showing off his Rolex watch. Later, Ibrahim claimed that he received a watch with a falcon logo as a gift from a Saudi prince.
Ibrahim Faced Legal Challenges for Alleged Hate Speeches and Riots in 1986
In 1986, many cases were filed against C. M. Ibrahim for delivering hate speeches that incited riots in Bangalore and Tumkur. The riots were due to a controversy over the title of an article published in the Deccan Herald on 7 December 1986, which resulted in the unfortunate death of 17 people. [6]India Today
Controversies Surrounding Ibrahim’s Opposition to Tata-Singapore Airlines Joint Venture in 1997
In 1997, C. M. Ibrahim said no to a plan where the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines wanted to start an airline in India. He did not want foreign investment in India’s aviation sector for personal reasons. Some people accused the Aviation ministry, led by Ibrahim, of having a bad influence, and they said there was favouritism towards Jet Airways, a private carrier. In November 2010, Ratan Tata said that in the 1990s, a minister had asked for a bribe of Rs. 15 crore (about US$3.3 million) to approve a project with Singapore Airlines. Tata didn’t pay the bribe, and even though Ibrahim wasn’t directly named, some in the media thought he might be the minister mentioned by Tata. Ibrahim said the accusations weren’t true. [7]The Economic Times
Popularity Decline
In the late 2000s, he became less popular because of a reported rape incident involving one of his brothers in Bhadravathi, and he didn’t go back to the Assembly. [8]News18
CM Ibrahim in 2000s
DTH Controversy
When C. M. Ibrahim was the Information & Broadcasting Minister, he refused to let Star Television start a direct-to-home (DTH) service in India. Reportedly, he supported Zee Television instead, went against other ministers, and let Zee Television run a DTH network. [9]Rediff
Voter Bribery
On 1 September 2010, during a campaign in his home state, Ibrahim accused Katta Subramanya Naidu, a politician from the rival Bharatiya Janata Party, of bribing voters. [10]Deccan Herald C. M. Ibrahim appealed to the voters,
Take the stack of currency given by Katta Subramanya Naidu without any second thought but do not fail to cast vote for Congress.”
Family Issues
In January 2017, C. M. Ibrahim’s daughter, Iffa Afza, claimed that her parents pressured her to undergo an abortion as soon as her pregnancy was confirmed. She blamed her family for playing a role in the compelled abortion. [11]Deccan Herald
C. M. Ibrahim’s daughter, Iffa Afza, in a hospital
Opportunity Greed
Over time, C. M. Ibrahim gained a reputation for missing out on many opportunities due to his “greedy” attitude. Once, in a media conversation, a JD(S) leader shared Ibrahim’s thoughts. The leader said,
He was too greedy. Had three years left as MLC (in the Congress), but shifted after he was not made LoP in the Upper House. He thought that he can become a minister if there is a coalition government, but the Congress got a full majority.”
Assets/Properties
Movable Assets
- Cash: Rs. 4,00,000
- Deposits in Banks: Rs. 4,86,777
- Bonds, Debentures, and Shares in companies: Rs. 6,70,51,339
- LIC or other insurance Policies: Rs. 1,07,765
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 3,00,000
Immovable Assets
- Agricultural Land: Rs. 72,00,000
- Commercial Buildings: Rs. 6,25,00,000
Net Worth
In 2013, his net worth was approximately calculated at Rs. 19. 79 crores. [14]My Neta
Facts/Trivia
- Reportedly, C. M. Ibrahim was good at talking to people and that was his strongest point. In the late 1970s, he attracted big crowds to Nehru Park in Sheshadripuram, Bengaluru, because of his dark glasses and his impressive way of speaking. Even though people did not specifically call him a ‘Muslim leader,’ he was well-suited for the role because he could speak different languages like Urdu, Hindi, and Kannada.
- Some senior JD(S) leaders mentioned that at one point, C. M. Ibrahim was known as the translator for Deve Gowda. Deve Gowda wasn’t fluent in Hindi when he became the Prime Minister of India. Ibrahim remained a trusted confidant of the JD(S) chief and also acted as Deve Gowda’s spokesperson.
CM Ibrahim with Deve Gowda
References
