Former CHP mayor Sarıgül to run independently for Istanbul’s Şişli district

ANKARA

Mustafa Sarıgül, former mayor of the Şişli district of Istanbul from the ranks of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has resigned from the CHP and said he would run independently for the same constituency in the upcoming local polls.

“I, who have never got tired of working and struggling, am tired of waiting and being kept waiting,” Sarıgül said in a written statement on Jan. 23. “I resign with sorrow from the CHP, of which I will always be proud of being a member.”

Sarıgül was the mayor of Şişli district for 15 years between 1999 and 2014 from the CHP. He was represented as the CHP’s candidate for Istanbul in 2014 but lost against the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) candidate, Kadir Topbaş, despite garnering 41 percent of votes.

“I have not observed fidelity from the CHP despite all what I did for it. I am not in reaction against the CHP and its electorate but against its management,” he stressed. Sarıgül explained that his relations with the CHP date back to his youth years as he served as a loyal member to the party from its youth branch.

Sarıgül had announced his demand to run for Şişli from the CHP but had not received any response so far. Şişli, a CHP stronghold, is among many constituencies whose candidates have not been announced yet. “I have been preparing for Şişli for the last four years but no announcement has been made yet although there are only two months to go to the polls,” he added.

“Will Sarıgül run for Şişli? My answer is yes. I will outline my road map with the residents of Şişli from tomorrow. I am very determined,” he stressed.