CHP mayor who made headlines over alleged transfer to AKP puts up Erdoğan banner: He had said 'I am at home in the CHP'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in a statement regarding the detention of Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat on January 13, had alleged that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had offered a transfer to a CHP mayor.

"THIS IS A STATE MATTER"

Özel claimed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had sent a private vehicle to pick up a CHP mayor last week to offer him a transfer, and described the events as follows:

"One of my mayors, a successful mayor, a district mayor of a metropolitan city, the mayor of a district where he [Erdoğan] is furious about losing, calls me in distress. 'The President wants to have a private meeting with me. What do you say, Mr. Chairman?' I said, 'If the President is calling a mayor, this is a state matter. There must be an important issue for your district, something you need to know... Go, we will talk when you return.'"

Özel had alleged that President Erdoğan offered the mayor in question to join the AK Party. Following Özel's statements, it was revealed that the name was Adana Yüreğir Mayor Ali Demirçalı.

ERDOĞAN BANNER FROM THE MAYOR

Following the incident that piqued Turkey's curiosity, a notable move came from Demirçalı. President Erdoğan will attend the AK Party Adana Provincial Congress tomorrow. Before President Erdoğan's arrival, Demirçalı had a banner hung in the district that read, "Welcome to our Yüreğir, Mr. President."

This banner sparked comments asking, "Is Demirçalı switching to the AK Party?"

"I AM AT HOME IN THE CHP"

When reminded of the reports that he had been invited to the AKP, Demirçalı had said, "I am at home in the CHP. I will continue to engage in politics within the Republican People's Party."

News Source: 12punto