CHP Bitlis mayoral candidate Soyugüzel resigns from party: Joins AKP

Republican People's Party (CHP) Bitlis mayoral candidate Selim Soyugüzel has resigned from his party and joined the AKP. Claiming that the time for the rally he was scheduled to hold today was changed without his knowledge, Soyugüzel said, "This country belongs to all of us. We will be at the command of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to support our relative and AKP Bitlis mayoral candidate Nesrullah Tanğlay, who is always by our nation's side. We will win the election to be held on Sunday shoulder to shoulder with the AKP organization. We will always stand by our state and our nation. We are strong, we are determined, we will succeed together. We will work steadily. May our path and our fortune be clear," he stated.

AKP Bitlis MP Turan Bedirhanoğlu thanked Soyugüzel for joining the AKP and supporting Nesrullah Tanğlay.

Stating that they believe they will win the election, Bedirhanoğlu said, "I sincerely thank both Mr. Selim and his family. This is the difference of the AKP. It has never done wrong to those who serve in the party or to its supporters, and it has never been involved in secret plans. It is a party that always engages in politics for the people with sincerity and is not part of anyone's schemes," he expressed.

AKP Bitlis Provincial Chairman Kadir Köstekçi also stated that following the trouble Soyugüzel experienced yesterday, he conveyed to them that he wanted to act with the AKP, join the party, and support their candidate, Tanğlay.

Köstekçi said, "This has given us honor and strength. We welcome Mr. Soyugüzel, his family, and his organization. With God's permission, this union will bring significant success and achievement on the evening of March 31."

TWO CANDIDATES ARE RELATIVES

Tanğlay also mentioned that he and Soyugüzel are relatives, stating, "Everyone sees the dirty games in Bitlis and who is with whom behind closed doors. The CHP's rally time was given to the DEM Party. This was given through financial bargaining behind closed doors. In other words, this is the greatest proof that the alliance between the CHP and the DEM Party across all of Turkey, in every province and district, is evident. For this reason, we ask our people to support service and our President. With God's permission, we will continue our journey of service from where we left off on the morning of April 1. I thank those present here for their participation," he said.

PINNED THE BADGE

Following the speeches, Köstekçi pinned the AKP badge on Soyugüzel.

The meeting was attended by former AKP Bitlis MP Vahit Kiler, AKP Central District Chairman Emre Güzelsoy, AKP Provincial Youth Branch Chairman Doğan Daldagül, and party members.

In a statement he made yesterday in front of the CHP Bitlis Provincial Headquarters building, Soyugüzel had alleged, "Our rally times, which were determined by a draw at the District Election Board for March 28 between 13:00 and 15:00, were unfortunately subject to bargaining behind closed doors through a dirty game and were sold by the CHP to the DEM Party in exchange for money."

News Source: AA