Striking claim about Özel and İmamoğlu from pro-government columnist! 'Whether he wins or loses...'

It has been alleged that there is tension between CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The journalist who put forward this claim, Hürriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who is known for his proximity to the government, stated, "Whether İmamoğlu wins or loses the election, danger bells are ringing for Özgür Özel after April 1st."

In his column titled "A black cat has come between İmamoğlu and Özgür Özel," Selvi summarized what transpired between the duo during a dinner as follows;

"With them was Deputy Chairman Gökhan Zeybek, one of the names İmamoğlu trusts most. İmamoğlu tells Özgür Özel to his face that he will not let anyone interfere in the determination of district mayoral candidates in Istanbul. He explains that there are problems in determining mayoral candidates in some provinces due to Veli Ağbaba and Ali Mahir Başarır. He says, 'I will determine Istanbul. Gökhan will explain the rest to you. Now I need to go,' and he gets up and leaves. Özgür Özel also does not attend the introductory meeting where the district mayoral candidates in Istanbul were announced."

Selvi claimed that a turbulent period awaits the CHP after the local elections and added the following to his column today:

"If he loses the election, he will take action to become the CHP chairman. It is said that if he wins the election, İmamoğlu will press the button to convene an extraordinary congress and topple Özgür Özel. It is rumored that because he does not trust Özgür Özel, he plans to put Gökhan Günaydın at the head of the CHP instead. Whether İmamoğlu wins or loses the election, danger bells are ringing for Özgür Özel after April 1st."

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