WAR breaks out in MIC over Vell Paari’s sacking

A full-blown battle has emerged between the past and present presidents of the MIC following the sacking of party strategist S. Vell Paari from the powerful central working committee (CWC).

Party leaders say the drastic action by Datuk Seri G. Palanivel against the son of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, the former chief, will result in more casualties. With the party polls nearing, insiders also see Palanivel’s move as the return of the contentious caste politics.

Caste politics had in the past broken up the MIC into factions, causing irreparable damage.

Party leaders are bracing for:

• • > More people to be sacked or suspended;
  • > Branches to be de-registered;
  • > New branches to be set up;
  • > Appointments of low-profile members to important positions.

Last week, Palanivel took over the helm of Kedah MIC after removing Samy Vellu loyalist S. Ananthan.

The leaders said Palanivel’s removal of Vell Paari and Puteri chief Usha Nandini from the CWC smacks of caste politics.

The two were replaced by former vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan and S. Sunthar, the son of former deputy president Tan Sri S. Subramaniam, respectively.

Said a leader, who requested anonymity: “Interestingly, both the new CWC members are from the Gounder caste.

“It is no secret that Samy was always at loggerheads with Subramaniam and by extension with the Gounder community.”

He said the Gounder community made up a sizeable number of MIC members and “Palanivel’s is consolidating their support for him in the party elections.”

Palanivel, he said, has angered members of Samy Vellu’s caste, the Devar.

He said several senior party leaders are from the Devar caste but it looks like Palanivel has decided that the combined vote from the Gounder and his own Muthaliyar caste will be enough to offset the lost votes from the Devar group.

- MM