MIC polls: Palanivel still the favourite
Humayun KabirPublished: Aug 13, 2009 3:56 PM | Updated: Aug 13, 2009 4:22 PM
The tide still appears to be running favour of incumbent MIC deputy president G Palanivel retaining his seat in the three-cornered fight with former party deputy president S Subramaniam and incumbent vice-president S Sothinathan in the Sept 12 party election.
With three states backing him plus the party president's blessings the deputy president is expected to retain his seat but with a slimmer majority this time around.
The tide still appears to be running favour of incumbent MIC deputy president G Palanivel retaining his seat in the three-cornered fight with former party deputy president S Subramaniam and incumbent vice-president S Sothinathan in the Sept 12 party election.
However, because of the number of contestants Palanivel is expected to be returned with a vastly reduced majority this time around unlike previously, sources told Malaysiakini today.
Besides the blessings of his boss, party president S. Samy Vellu, Palanivel (right) has also won backing from the three states of Selangor, Perak and Johor, which together boast the largest number of delegates nationwide.
The incumbent who is also Selangor state chief expects solid support from his state which has the highest number of party delegates with the added boost from Samy being an ordinary member of the MIC Batu Caves branch.
A source said the initial projection was a straight fight betweeen Palanivel and Subramaniam with Sothinathan acting the spoiler.
But the equation has changed with Subramaniam now taking on the role of spoiler, as the source said he faces a mountainous task to turn into the party's come-back kid.
Caste has lost its sting
According to Samy , Subramaniam (below) had not contributed much to the development of the party and the Indian community during his tenure of 29 years as his deputy and 25 years as a deputy minister.
There had been media speculation that delegates will vote along caste lines as Sothinathan and Subramaniam are both gounders while Palanivel is a muthaliar.
But this theory has been dismissed by the party source as caste no longer plays the deciding role for the current crop of delegates because of the generational change.
"You must remember that this time around 70 % of the 1,500 delegates are new blood, who are more critical in their selection and definitely they will want to elect a leader who can bring about positive development for the party which has been in the doldrums since the last general election," the source pointed out.
"As long as Datuk Seri is the boss, these delegates at the end of the day will close ranks and support his team," the source added.
"If Palanivel retains his post, then there is a possibility that Datuk Seri may step down next year.
MIC without Samy
"However, if Subramaniam wins then Datuk Seri will complete his three-year tenure which ends in 2012 and open the door anyone to contest the top post."
Samy had made it clear more than once that he is determined to complete his three term in office.
Another possibility put forward by the source is that if Palanivel retains his post, then Dr S Subramaniam who is expected to win the vice-president post handily, will be the former's running mate in the 2012 party elections when Samy retires.
"Even if Sothinathan fails in his attempt to get the deputy 'spost, he is still young at 49 and can wait for the next general elections when he may be given a MIC parliamentary post to contest."
Samy had tried to persuade his blue-eyed boy to back-out from going for the deputy's post, but Sothinathan has been adamant in taking on Palanivel.
However, the source stated that MIC members have a habit of pulling off last minute surprises and this could happen again on the Aug 22 nomination day .
" On the second day of MIC elections (Sept 13)Datuk Seri is expected to introduce new faces for the posts of secretary-general, treasurer-general and party information chief , fulfilling his aim of bringing in educated and young second-line leaders into the party," the source stated.
As far the three party vice-president posts which five party members are vying for , the source stated that all the president's men may make it if the delegates support the boss' endorsements.
The three are Human Resources Minister and MIC secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and MIC treasurer-general S K Devamany and Deputy Federal Territories Minister and MIC information chief M Saravanan.
The other two are Johor MIC treasurer S Balakrishnan and former Selangor youth chief P Subramaniam.
The incumbent vice-presidents are Sothinathan and S Veerasingam who has opted to serve the party at state-level while K S Nijhar quit his post last year.
However, because of the number of contestants Palanivel is expected to be returned with a vastly reduced majority this time around unlike previously, sources told Malaysiakini today.
Besides the blessings of his boss, party president S. Samy Vellu, Palanivel (right) has also won backing from the three states of Selangor, Perak and Johor, which together boast the largest number of delegates nationwide.The incumbent who is also Selangor state chief expects solid support from his state which has the highest number of party delegates with the added boost from Samy being an ordinary member of the MIC Batu Caves branch.
A source said the initial projection was a straight fight betweeen Palanivel and Subramaniam with Sothinathan acting the spoiler.
But the equation has changed with Subramaniam now taking on the role of spoiler, as the source said he faces a mountainous task to turn into the party's come-back kid.
Caste has lost its sting
According to Samy , Subramaniam (below) had not contributed much to the development of the party and the Indian community during his tenure of 29 years as his deputy and 25 years as a deputy minister.
There had been media speculation that delegates will vote along caste lines as Sothinathan and Subramaniam are both gounders while Palanivel is a muthaliar.But this theory has been dismissed by the party source as caste no longer plays the deciding role for the current crop of delegates because of the generational change.
"You must remember that this time around 70 % of the 1,500 delegates are new blood, who are more critical in their selection and definitely they will want to elect a leader who can bring about positive development for the party which has been in the doldrums since the last general election," the source pointed out.
"As long as Datuk Seri is the boss, these delegates at the end of the day will close ranks and support his team," the source added.
"If Palanivel retains his post, then there is a possibility that Datuk Seri may step down next year.
MIC without Samy
"However, if Subramaniam wins then Datuk Seri will complete his three-year tenure which ends in 2012 and open the door anyone to contest the top post."
Samy had made it clear more than once that he is determined to complete his three term in office.
Another possibility put forward by the source is that if Palanivel retains his post, then Dr S Subramaniam who is expected to win the vice-president post handily, will be the former's running mate in the 2012 party elections when Samy retires.
"Even if Sothinathan fails in his attempt to get the deputy 'spost, he is still young at 49 and can wait for the next general elections when he may be given a MIC parliamentary post to contest."
Samy had tried to persuade his blue-eyed boy to back-out from going for the deputy's post, but Sothinathan has been adamant in taking on Palanivel.
However, the source stated that MIC members have a habit of pulling off last minute surprises and this could happen again on the Aug 22 nomination day .
" On the second day of MIC elections (Sept 13)Datuk Seri is expected to introduce new faces for the posts of secretary-general, treasurer-general and party information chief , fulfilling his aim of bringing in educated and young second-line leaders into the party," the source stated.
As far the three party vice-president posts which five party members are vying for , the source stated that all the president's men may make it if the delegates support the boss' endorsements.
The three are Human Resources Minister and MIC secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and MIC treasurer-general S K Devamany and Deputy Federal Territories Minister and MIC information chief M Saravanan.
The other two are Johor MIC treasurer S Balakrishnan and former Selangor youth chief P Subramaniam.
The incumbent vice-presidents are Sothinathan and S Veerasingam who has opted to serve the party at state-level while K S Nijhar quit his post last year.
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