TURKISH police today detained 10 senior officials of district municipalities in Istanbul over their alleged links to Kurdish militants, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The detentions widened a crackdown by authorities on opposition-held districts in the city.

The detainees include the deputy mayors of the districts of Kartal and Atasehir, along with eight district municipal council members, Anadolu reported. 

All are members of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

They were detained on suspicion of appointing people with alleged connections to Kurdish militants to municipal positions, thereby allowing the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), to infiltrate the municipalities, Anadolu reported.

Critics view the detentions as part of a government campaign to discredit Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, seen as a potential future challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

President Erdogan’s government rejects allegations that it puts pressure on the courts, insisting the judiciary operates independently.

The CHP made significant gains in Istanbul and across the country in local elections last year, in a major setback to Mr Erdogan’s ruling party.

There was no immediate comment from the CHP’s leadership.