In looking at the shenanigans being played out by the losers and winners, I wonder if in all of this, the community interests are being served or are there personal agendas being pushed by the voices of the minority.

The MIC elections are over. In any elections, there are winners and losers; this is a universal fact. Once an election is over its time for the opposing forces to rally behind the elected president and provide the much-needed support to rejuvenate the party. Of course the losers can keep a close watch on the happenings and you can have a second shot in the next elections if your policies and promises meet the needs of the greater community.

My personal advice is, "Move forward and move with a conviction that you will return if the need arises. It all depends on the president and his office-bearers and their actions and or inactions that can cause the return". Should this approach be taken, it is my belief you will earn the respect of the community and the delegates.

It is strange that no women contestants were seen or heard of in the just concluded MIC elections. I am certain there are women entrepreneurs, skilled women, and women from various disciplines who are capable of contributing to the development of MIC and who can be role models across the board.

The question that begs an answer is "Why were the women's strength and capability not harnessed?" The death knell for women in politics began when "Wanita" wings were started. With the advent of Wanita wings being promoted on the sidelines of political parties; you have either involuntarily or by design created a quota system.

I believe with the evolution of society women can play a greater role in society and in politics and let it not be based on a quota system. The silence from the Wanita wing has been too thunderous to be missed.

MIC should now be looking at creating avenues to provide opportunities for the Indians to reach for the skies and the only way is to set globally competitive standards. Set yourselves a mark using numbers if the system employed provides the desired results; if it does not, go back to the drawing board.

MIC should stop the incidental and occasional gestures like giving away sewing machines and live in the belief that issues have been addressed. There needs to be end-to-end assistance and guidance given including getting the sewing contracts, opening bank accounts, managing accounts and more importantly how to sustain the business in the harsh realities of business competitiveness.

Division leaders must stop this band-aid system of helping the needy. Work with your local community; get your local community involved in helping one of your own. Leaders in the habit of "extorting" cash from other leaders to help someone should look at more "ethical" ways of seeking contribution and fund raising should be a regular part of the party's work plan.

Leaders who appear clueless on strategic planning are leaders without substance and such kinds should pave the way for more capable candidates to take over.

In conclusion, stop talking and get down to work. To the poresident of MIC, you are the one with the whip and do use it wisely to get the party up from the grave!