‘Show the way out to Palani’

Sacked MIC member pushes MIC leaders who have a heart for the party to pressure its president to quit immediately.

GEORGE TOWN: G Palanivel’s days as MIC president would end soon if he continues to indiscriminately expel his critics and promotecronyism along divisive caste and patronage lines, warned a former division leader.

Ex-Bukit Gelugor division chairman K Loganathan claimed that the party’s disciplinary committee was already under the intensive care unit as it was being misused to sack leaders and members to safeguard Palanivel’s interest in leading the party beyond 2016.

When he first came to power, Loganathan said Palanivel promised to transform the party into a more democratic political outfit.

But now he alleged, Palanivel had emerged as front runner amongst past MIC presidents to dish out show cause letters or sack his detractors.

He cynically suggested that those members and leaders sacked from MIC by the president can indeed form a club as their number is large.

He claimed that Taman Baroda branch youth chief of Merbok division, K Somasundaram was expelled recently for questioning Palanivel’s procrastination in appointing candidates suitable for senatorship.

“It was tragic that another youth leader was sacked at a time when people were demanding transparency and democracy, and many youths were shying away from MIC.

“If Palanivel continues to expel critics and nurture cronies along divisive caste and patronage lines, his days as the leader are numbered,” warned Loganathan in a statement to FMT here today.

To-date he said Palanivel had not appointed senators to represent MIC in the parliament because, if speculations were true, the party president had promised to many people within the party the senatorship in exchange for their support.

“It was basically a bait to fish for support in the party election,” alleged Loganathan, who was sacked from the party in February for criticisingPalanivel.

While he focused on regular pilgrimage to India to remain connected with divinity, Loganathan said Palanivel had been miserably disconnected with the Indian community here which had given him the power and position.

While MIC grassroots leaders were toiling on the ground to keep the party relevant, he said Palanivel had been enjoying power and perks as the Natural Resources and Environment Minister.

“Majority of the MIC chairmen, who have heart for the party and Indian community should rise up and show the way out to Palanivel,” said Loganathan.