First challenger to Ekrem İmamoğlu emerges in CHP! He has applied for candidacy...

As the March 31, 2024 Local Elections approach, the application process for candidacy in political parties continues.

In the CHP, where the candidate selection process has begun to be discussed, the first challenger to IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has emerged.

CHP's Bakırköy Mayor Bülent Kerimoğlu became the first person to run against İmamoğlu as a candidate. Kerimoğlu submitted his candidacy documents to the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency.

"MAY IT BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR PARTY AND OUR ISTANBUL"

Sharing a video on his social media account, Kerimoğlu stated, "I have submitted my application for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayoral Candidacy AS THE CANDIDATE OF THE PARTY WORKERS WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE ORGANIZATION, who are populist, public-oriented, secular, revolutionary, and Kemalist, and committed to the fundamental values of the Republican People's Party. May it be beneficial to our party and our Istanbul."

I have submitted my application for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayoral Candidacy AS THE CANDIDATE OF THE PARTY WORKERS WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE ORGANIZATION, who are populist, public-oriented, secular, revolutionary, and Kemalist, and committed to the fundamental values of the Republican People's Party.
May it be beneficial to our party and our Istanbul. pic.twitter.com/dds2x8nyi4

— Dr. Bülent Kerimoğlu (@DrKerimoglu) December 1, 2023

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat also resigned from his post to run in the local elections. It was learned that Polat has not yet submitted his candidacy application.

Previously, IMM Deputy Secretary General Buğra Gökce had resigned to run for the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, and IMM Head of Transportation Department Utku Cihan had resigned for the Hopa Mayoral candidacy.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL: WE HAVE NO PROMISES TO ANYONE OTHER THAN THE THREE MAYORS

In the CHP, where the candidacy race is heating up, satisfaction surveys will be conducted for incumbent mayors outside of Istanbul, Ankara, and Aydın. On the other hand, CHP leader Özgür Özel had stated, "We have no promises to anyone other than our three metropolitan mayoral candidates."