Teagarajan eyes MIC deputy president post
Published: Nov 17, 2008 5:41 AM | Updated: Nov 17, 2008 9:49 AM
Although MIC party elections are only slated to take place next September, businessman VKK Teagarajan has already indicated his intention to vie for the deputy presidency post.
Although MIC party elections are only slated to take place next September, businessman VKK Teagarajan has already indicated his intention to vie for the deputy presidency post.
The 60-year-old former MIC central working committee (CWC) member feels that he could be a ‘new blood' to rejuvenate and strengthen the party.
"I am declaring this (bid to contest) after speaking to my supporters and party members in general. They feel that there should be new blood in the party, and I would like to offer myself for the position of deputy president," he said, as quoted by Bernama today.
The party has lost its support among the Indian community in the last general election with many of its tops leaders losing their seat. This included party president S Samy Vellu who had been at helm for almost 30 years now.
The party polls are only due next September but the election for the presidency will be held in March next year.
Samy Vellu is facing a challenge from former vice-president M Muthupalaniappan for the post. At least another candidate is expected to join in the race.
However Teagarajan's announcement of his bid for the deputy president did come as a surprise as the former president of the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was never thought of as a potential candidate.
At present the deputy post is held by G Palanivel who defeated long-time incumbent S Subramaniam in 2006 party elections.
An intense contest
Subramaniam, a deputy president for more than 20 years before his defeat, is widely tipped to throw his name into the ring once again. However some of his supporters are urging him to take on Samy Vellu for the top post.
Palanivel is also expected to defend his post while others such as vice-president S Sothinathan, secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam and information chief S Saravanan are all tipped to go for the deputy post.
The fight for the sole deputy president's post is expected to be intense as Samy Vellu is widely expected to vacate his position after the September 2009 MIC elections.
When that happens, the deputy president will be tasked to take over as the acting president.
Under the party rules, a member needs only one nomination to qualify to contest the post of deputy president, the three vice-president posts or any of the 23 CWC posts.
However, the requirement is tougher for the post of president as a candidate must obtain 50 nominations, with each nomination having a proposer and five seconders. And the proposer and seconders must be branch chairpersons.
The party president is elected by branch chairpersons, standing at about 3,200 at the moment. As for the other posts, they are elected by about 1,400 delegates at the party general assembly.
‘This is the start'
This is the first time Teagarajan is vying for such a top post in the party. Previously in 2006 he had attempted to contest for one of the three posts of vice-president but was returned fourth by the delegates.
In 2003, he had filed in his nomination papers for the vice-president's post but was persuaded by Samy Vellu to pull out.
Teagarajan, who joined MIC in 1987, is also a former senator and had served as party information chief in 2003, was elected to the CWC, the party's highest decision-making body, in 1997, and served in that capacity until 2003.
"I know the elections are 10 months away but we have to start somewhere... and I feel this is the start," said Teagarajan, who is also former Kuala Lumpur MIC chief.
He however said that he would pull out of the contest if he found another "worthy candidate".
"But for now, I do not see anyone making the move for the deputy president's post. If they come in, then by all means, they can contest. But for now, I am not going to back off," he said.
The 60-year-old former MIC central working committee (CWC) member feels that he could be a ‘new blood' to rejuvenate and strengthen the party."I am declaring this (bid to contest) after speaking to my supporters and party members in general. They feel that there should be new blood in the party, and I would like to offer myself for the position of deputy president," he said, as quoted by Bernama today.
The party has lost its support among the Indian community in the last general election with many of its tops leaders losing their seat. This included party president S Samy Vellu who had been at helm for almost 30 years now.
The party polls are only due next September but the election for the presidency will be held in March next year.
Samy Vellu is facing a challenge from former vice-president M Muthupalaniappan for the post. At least another candidate is expected to join in the race.
However Teagarajan's announcement of his bid for the deputy president did come as a surprise as the former president of the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was never thought of as a potential candidate.
At present the deputy post is held by G Palanivel who defeated long-time incumbent S Subramaniam in 2006 party elections.
An intense contest
Subramaniam, a deputy president for more than 20 years before his defeat, is widely tipped to throw his name into the ring once again. However some of his supporters are urging him to take on Samy Vellu for the top post.
Palanivel is also expected to defend his post while others such as vice-president S Sothinathan, secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam and information chief S Saravanan are all tipped to go for the deputy post.
The fight for the sole deputy president's post is expected to be intense as Samy Vellu is widely expected to vacate his position after the September 2009 MIC elections.
When that happens, the deputy president will be tasked to take over as the acting president.
Under the party rules, a member needs only one nomination to qualify to contest the post of deputy president, the three vice-president posts or any of the 23 CWC posts.
However, the requirement is tougher for the post of president as a candidate must obtain 50 nominations, with each nomination having a proposer and five seconders. And the proposer and seconders must be branch chairpersons.
The party president is elected by branch chairpersons, standing at about 3,200 at the moment. As for the other posts, they are elected by about 1,400 delegates at the party general assembly.
‘This is the start'
This is the first time Teagarajan is vying for such a top post in the party. Previously in 2006 he had attempted to contest for one of the three posts of vice-president but was returned fourth by the delegates.
In 2003, he had filed in his nomination papers for the vice-president's post but was persuaded by Samy Vellu to pull out.
Teagarajan, who joined MIC in 1987, is also a former senator and had served as party information chief in 2003, was elected to the CWC, the party's highest decision-making body, in 1997, and served in that capacity until 2003.
"I know the elections are 10 months away but we have to start somewhere... and I feel this is the start," said Teagarajan, who is also former Kuala Lumpur MIC chief.
He however said that he would pull out of the contest if he found another "worthy candidate".
"But for now, I do not see anyone making the move for the deputy president's post. If they come in, then by all means, they can contest. But for now, I am not going to back off," he said.
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