Three-cornered bouts likely for Kota Raja, Kapar

MIC's traditional seats which fell to the opposition in the last election may witness three-cornered fights in the upcoming polls.

PETALING JAYA: New faces are expected to be fielded in two parliamentary constituencies that are traditionally contested by MIC in Selangor.

Both the constituencies, Kapar and Kota Raja, could witness three-cornered battles.

In Kapar, it is speculated that incumbent S Manikavasagam of PKR would be asked to contest a state seat instead. He is expected to be replaced by current state exco and Andalas state rep Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

MIC, on the hand, is expected to field its Puchong division chief, A Sakthivel, a trained engineer turned businessman who sits in MIC’s central working committee.

The third contestant is expected to be independent Dr V Nedunchelian. A practising dentist, Nedunchelian had previously confirmed that he would be contesting in the 13th general election.

In the last general election, Manikavasagam defeated S Komala Devi of MIC with a majority of 12,297 votes.

Kapar is the biggest parliament seat in Selangor with 112,224 voters of which 49% are Malays, 36% Chinese and 15% Indians.

Uthayakumar to join the fray?
Meanwhile, in Kota Raja, PAS incumbent Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud had defeated MIC’s SA Vigneswaran in 2008 to clinch the seat.

Speculation is rife that the former MIC Youth chief might attempt to reclaim his seat in the upcoming general election.

The third candidate eyeing the Kota Raja seat is Human Rights Party’s pro-tem secretary general P Uthayakumar.

“At least one Hindraf leader must go to Parliament and the most suitable candidate to be the voice of the Indians is Uthayakumar,” said a source who sits in the Hindraf supreme council.

HRP also hoped that Pakatan Rakyat would give way to them, adding that HRP is confident of winning the seat with a slim margin either way.

“We’ll be banking on 90% of Indian votes and 30% of Chinese votes and hope 70% Malay votes go in favor of Pakatan if the opposition coalition fields a candidate,” said the source.

Kota Raja has 71,887 total voters, of which Indians form 28.3%, Malay voters make up 47.8% while Chinese voters makes up 23.2%.