Vell Paari...

G Palanivel yesterday removed Samy Vellu's son Vell Paari from MIC Central Working Committee (CWC), a move believed to strengthen the party and bringing about 'changes and effectiveness'.

The party president however did not give any reason for the 'dismissal' but some believed Vell Paari, 51, was over outspoken in his ways although many approved his style.

The strategic director once threatened to take MIC out of Barisan Nasional over his dissatisfaction at Perkasa and other issues. He also criticised former PM Tun Dr Mohamad, accusing him of being racist, and urging BNnot to blame the Chinese for supporting the opposition during the May 5 general election.

Also dropped is the party's Putri chief J Usha Nandhini.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC strategic director S. Vell Paari and the party’s Puteri chief, J. Usha Nandhini, have been dropped from the party’s central working committee.
Both were unaware they had been removed from the party’s policy-making body and only discovered it when reporters started calling them for their response.
“This is so not right. I understand that the appointment is the president’s prerogative, but is this the way to do it? Until now, I have not been officially informed by the party,” said Usha.
The former senator said even though the news came as a shock, she had “seen it coming” because many senior party leaders were slowly being dropped from the party’s CWC and being replaced.
She was appointed by former party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in 2003 as a CWC member.
“I always thought I had a role there as I spoke on behalf of the younger generation. I thank Samy Vellu for the appointment and will continue to fight for women’s rights.”
Usha, touted to be eyeing the Wanita chief post, was also believed to have had the backing of former Wanita chief Datin Jaya Partiban.
Meanwhile, Vell Paari said he too was caught unawares by the news.
“Nobody called and told me. I only came to know about it when an online reporter called and asked for my comment.”
Vell Paari said party secretary-general A. Sakthivel also did not know anything about the removals.
“However, I am not perturbed by this. It does not matter. As far as I am concerned, I will still contest the vice-president’s post.”
Vell Paari said his removal may have had to do with his recent statement that there might be a leadership challenge at the party’s presidential election in September.
In a press statement, Palanivel said Vell Paari would be replaced by Datuk S. Sothinathan, former party vice-president and former member of parliament for Teluk Kemang while Usha
would be replaced by Sunthar Subramaniam, son of former MIC president Tan Sri S. Subramaniam.
No reasons were given for the removals.

Former president S Samy Vellu has yet to comment on the latest development but many were shock and disappointed with Palani's decision.

However, it is the prerogative right of the party president to do so, especially when MIC was trying hard to woo more Indians to join it. This 'on the fence' Indians - just like many Malays and Chinese - are either non-party members or having reservation about MIC.

But did his removal has anything to do with his interview with The Star a few days ago about the possibility of Palanivel-Subramanian head-on collision for MIC No.1 post in the next party elections?

Hoping for MIC to be better...