CHP Istanbul deputy's report calls party 'Alevi,' hints at division

The Republican People's Party (CHP) is at a crossroads and there is a division within the party, CHP Istanbul Deputy Mehmet Bekaroğlu contended in his report about the current state of the party.

Titled "CHP at a Historic Turning Point," Bekaroğlu's report underscores that there is a notion among the public that the CHP has become a party of Alevis. "Elsewhere, Alevism and cemevis are exploited as much as possible in the struggle for the chairmanship within the CHP, which contributes to the notion," the report said.

CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who has been in the post since 2010, is accused of following a sectarian policy in the party and purging members.

The report also reflects on the party's unsuccessful performances in the general elections over the course of the last 66 years. "For 66 years, the CHP has not been able to garner enough votes to come to power alone. Because the devout, Kurds and the poor do not vote for the CHP," the report said.

The report also contend sthat the CHP's voter groups are limited to the rich and secular. "Those who are not devout, calling themselves modern and secular, looked down on the devout and deemed them as retrogressive and ignorant," the report said.

The CHP has been in turmoil following frustration in the Nov. 1 elections. The intra-party opposition gathered and held a closed-door meeting in early June, which included some former CHP deputies and delegates.

The current position of the CHP administration was addressed and the attendees at the meeting stressed the "need for a new party chairman and administration is vital."

Kılıçdaroğlu had challenged the dissidents in mid-May, saying that he is ready to hold the convention if the opposition gathers the required signatures from party delegates.

Kılıçdaroğlu has been facing protests and heavy criticism from many circles due to controversial statements. He took flak for his remark that a presidential system cannot come to Turkey without bloodshed.

He also faced tough protests at funerals of slain police officers. The protests are believed to have taken place because he said in a live TV interview in early June that he had visited PKK and Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) terrorists in prison.