Rift appearing in MIC over party polls

While G Palanivel-led Selangor MIC wants a "no-contest" ruling for the party top post, vice president Saravanan calls for elections for all positions in the party.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor MIC through a resolution passed today wants a no-contest for the MIC presidential post at the party presidential elections, expected to be held this year.

While the Selangor MIC, headed by party president G Palanivel, made the decision public after a meeting at the MIC headquarters this afternoon, party vice-president M Saravanan wants all positions in the party open for contest.

“Although we cannot stop anyone from contesting, we 22 division leaders in the state have taken a resolution that there should be no contest for the top post,” Selangor MIC secretary K Partiban told a press conference after the meeting. Palanivel did not attend the meeting.

“Apart from that, we also urge the party to initiate action against party leaders who worked against the Barisan Nasional in the recently concluded general election,” he added.

Meanwhile, Saravanan speaking to FMT said all positions in the party must be contested if there is challenge.

“Firstly, we should have held elections at all levels in the party last year but the central working committee postponed it due to the general election.

“Although the central working committee is empowered to make such a decision, it has not set a time frame as to when the election should be held. So, to avoid the party from being deregistered, we need to hold elections as soon as possible,” he told FMT.

Saravanan further said Palanivel too needs a strong mandate through elections as he was still the party acting president after taking over the post following the resignation of the then president S Samy Vellu in 2010.

“I am not saying anyone should contest the top post. All I am saying is that in line with introducing greater transparency and democracy in the party, all positions should be up for contest.

“Barring people from contesting or making a mockery of the presidential election should not be allowed. Let us be open about things. I do not mind if other leaders want to contest the vice-presidency or other important positions in the party,” he said.

“I feel all positions (in the party) must be up for elections,” he added.

Palanivel under pressure

The MIC presidential election must be held as soon as possible as the term of the current president has already expired. The party held presidential election in March, 2009 and four years have passed since.

MIC has an unique system where the presidential election is held three months before the election for other top national positions — deputy president, three vice-presidents and 25 central working committee members. Before this the party must hold elections at the division level.

In the March 2009 presidential election, then party supremo Samy Vellu retained the presidency for a record 11th consecutive term. He won the top post uncontested.

Under the party constitution, a presidential aspirant needs to obtain 50 nominations, with each nomination needing one proposer and five seconders, to be eligible to contest. All proposers and seconders must be branch chairmen.

The MIC president would be picked by about 3,700 branch chairmen nationwide in the event of a contest compared to other top national posts which are decided by some 1,500 divisional delegates who attend the party’s annual general assembly.

Samy Vellu, who was works minister before his defeat in the 2008 general election in his parliamentary constituency of Sungai Siput, had been at the helm of the largest Indian-based political party since 1979, when he became the acting president after the death of then president V Manikavasagam.

He stepped down in December, 2010 paving the way for current party chief G Palanivel to become MIC’s acting president.

Since the last presidential election was in March 2009 and the term came to an end in March 2012, Palanivel’s critics claim that his presidency is now null and void.