Erdoğan had said 'the big radish is in the bag': Advice to his party from a former AKP deputy regarding İmamoğlu! 'Unless there is a very solid file...'

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used the phrase "The big radish is in the bag" in his statement following the arrest of CHP's Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat.

It was suggested that with these words, Erdoğan was referring to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

CHP leader Özgür Özel, in his response to Erdoğan, said, "The big radish is at the ballot box. If you aren't afraid, come to the ballot box and see the big one there."

Evaluating the operation targeting the Beşiktaş Municipality, which resulted in the arrest of Rıza Akpolat, former AKP deputy Şamil Tayyar claimed that a similar process could be initiated for İBB Mayor İmamoğlu.

Speaking on a live broadcast on Tv100, Tayyar gave the following response to a question about who and what Erdoğan meant by the expression "The big radish is in the bag":

"When we look at it as the public perceives it, the first person who comes to mind is Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. We don't know if there will be a new investigation regarding İmamoğlu in the coming period or if the file pending in the appellate court will be concluded quickly, or if it will enter the political agenda as a topic of debate, but ultimately, it is imminent.

It has been about 1 and a half years. When we look at the durations of files pending in the appellate court, we see that this has been greatly exceeded. That file could be decided upon these days, and the probability of it being upheld seems high. İmamoğlu has also accepted this decision. He himself made a statement saying, 'Go ahead and uphold it as soon as possible.'"

"IF THE FILE ISN'T VERY SOLID..."

Stating that the allegations regarding the Beşiktaş Municipality could be valid for the Metropolitan Municipality and that there might be preliminary preparations for this, Tayyar responded to the host's question, "Could İmamoğlu also be arrested?" by saying, "The same process could happen. If the measure is exceeded, if the files referred to the judiciary are empty, and if this is perceived as a political operation, it could backfire. If there is a preparation regarding İmamoğlu, its foundation must be very solid. After all, we are talking about the CHP's presidential candidate. If the file isn't very solid, it will backfire."

WHAT DID İMAMOĞLU SAY?

İBB Mayor İmamoğlu had said regarding the operation in which Beşiktaş Mayor Akpolat was detained, "I am challenging you from here. If your target is to reach the İBB and me, there is no need to create side roads. My political ban case is right there. Since your target is me, uphold my sentence and leave the people alone."