Nominations for MIC divisions will be held between Sept 27 and Sept 29, paving the way for the second stage of the party’s polls. Elections for the divisions have been scheduled for between Oct 6 and Oct 19. MIC secretary-general A. Sakthivel said the elections were important as the delegates chosen would vote for the deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee (CWC) members. MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel won uncontested to become the eighth party president on Sept 1. It has been reported that Palanivel and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam had an agreement that the top two posts should be not contested following talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Palanivel had indicated that he would not contest for the president’s post in the next election scheduled in 2016. In a statement issued on Thursday, he said he wanted Dr Subramaniam to be returned unopposed in the party polls. However, there is speculation that former MIC vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan might contest the number two post again. In 2009, Sothinathan joined the three-way contest for the post, facing incumbent Palanivel and former deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam. Palanivel won. As for the contest for the three vice-president posts, a crowded affair is expected with more than 10 leaders joining the fray. They include incumbents Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and Perak assembly speaker Datuk S.K. Devamany, the party’s strategic director S. Vell Paari, former MIC Youth chief S.A. Vigneswaran, Negeri Sembilan state MIC chairman Datuk T. Rajagopalu and Johor contractor Datuk S. Balakrishnan. Party treasurer Datuk Jaspal Singh, who has been travelling around the country meeting MIC division members, is also expected to go for one of the three vice-presidents’ posts. Other possible contenders include Selangor MIC treasurer N. Rawisandran who contested unsuccessfully for the Batu Caves state seat in the recent general election, former secretary-general Datuk S. Murugessan and Klang division chairman Raghu Moorthy. MIC Youth chief T. Mohan, who has already announced that he would not defend his youth post, is also expected to contest for a vice-president post. Palanivel said he expected keen contests for the vice-president posts and CWC seats, with 185 having already indicated their intention to contest.
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 03:58:00 +0000
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