Subra loyalist quits VP race
One of the candidates for MIC's vice-presidential post has dropped out of the race, leaving the remaining seven to battle it out for the three available vacancies.
An aspirant for MIC's vice-presidential post has dropped out of the race, leaving the remaining seven to battle it out for the three available vacancies.
Announcing his departure from the contest, former deputy president S Subramaniam loyalist, KP Samy, told a press conference that he will, however, still vie for a place in the central working committee(CWC).
"With a heavy heart, I would like to announce that I am pulling out of the election for party vice-presidents," he said.
KP Samy, who was a former CWC member, would personally be submitting his withdrawal forms to the party headquarters today.
He said his desire to open opportunities for others to become party leaders and serve the community led him to his decision to quit.
The other reason being the strong possibility of split votes, if he stood for both posts.
"I am also withdrawing because the deputy president's post is much more important," he said, alluding to a strategy where delegates will be able to freely pick the remaining candidates for the vice-president's race and at the same time throw their support for Subramaniam for the deputy's post.
Subramaniam is challenging incumbent G Palanivel for the deputy's post, along with vice-president S Sothinathan.
For the veep race, with Samy withdrawing, seven other contestants will be fighting for the three available slots.
Good idea to debate
When asked to comment on party president Samy Vellu's open challenge to Subramaniam for a debate, KP Samy welcomed it.
"We welcome it and hope that it would take place soon as the community would have the opportunity to see for themselves who serves the community best."
He is also hopeful that others in the leadership hierarchy would be provided with similar opportunities for such debates.
Samy will be up against 64 others for the 23 central working committee seats.
Party election is due on Sept 12, with 1,400 delegates electing the new office bearers for the next three years. Samy Vellu returned, unopposed, as the president for the record 11th term in March this year.
