BS People: C M Ibrahim

Pandora's box

When Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata on Monday said graft had grounded his group’s ambitious airline project in collaboration with Singapore Airlines, C M Ibrahim unwittingly came under the spotlight. Although Tata clarified that no demand for a bribe came directly from any minister, Ibrahim had charge of the aviation ministry at the time Tata applied to the government for an airline licence.

A native of Kerala, Ibrahim started his political career with the Congress, joined the Janata Dal and is now back with the Congress. It was during his first stint as a Congressman that Deve Gowda wooed him and he joined the erstwhile united Janata Dal. When Gowda became PM in 1996, Ibrahim was made the information & broadcasting minister and also the civil aviation minister. Controversies have dogged Ibrahim all through his political career.

The party-hopping Ibrahim is known for his oratorical skills, which help him connect with any audience he addresses and known to be somewhat of a “rabble-rouser”. The ease with which he quotes the Vachanas (Kannada verses) and the Quran endear him to both Veerashaivas and Muslims alike. “He can give any Lingayat a run for his money,” said one person who has heard him speak.

Having started off as a state minister in the cabinet of a Congress government in Karnataka in 1980, Ibrahim was known as the right-hand man of then chief minister Gundu Rao. He was dogged by controversy for giving licences for the opening of flour mills. Subsequently, Ibrahim stepped down as minister. It looks like Tata may have kicked up a fresh storm.