Tough head-on collisions in MIC polls

Straight fights are on the cards for its wings’ leaders and it'll also be a crowded affair for its vice-presidents’ positions

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC Youth and Wanita elections scheduled for Nov 16 will see straight fights for the top posts.

C Sivaraajh and V Mugilan will vie for the youth chief position while the deputy youth position will witness a three-cornered fight among K Shashi Kumar, R Thinalan and K Somasundram.

Wanita exco member Mohana Muniandy will take on secretary M Vickneswari as incumbent wanita chief Komala Krishna Moorthy has opted out of the contest.

The deputy wanita position will see a battle between P Prema and K Nirmala.

For other positions, five names have been proposed for the Central Working Committee from the Youth wing and four names proposed from the Wanita wing.

The national council for both the Youth and Wanita wings will be filled up with 12 members, who will also contest on the same day.

Sivaraajh said that his popularity among the grassroots and experience as an assemblyman in the 13th GE should provide him the upper hand the contest against Mugilan.

Mugilan, who is also the Youth wing deputy chief, said that he is confident of beating Sivaraajh due to his current popularity and experience.

Mugilan gained prominence by forming Gerakan Anti Samy Vellu (GAS) to pressure the then MIC supremo S Samy Vellu to step down, for which he was subsequently sacked from the party.

Eventually when Mugilan was allowed to return to the party by present president G Palanivel, Sivaraajh raised a ruckus by complaining to the ROS, resulting in him being suspended from the party for six months. Now they are facing off each other for the Youth wing’s top post.

Meanwhile, Mohana said that it will be an interesting battle against her Vickneswari and believes that she can pull a winning stunt to upset her rival.

Vickneswari shared similar views, saying it will be a tough fight for the wanita chief’s position. She believes she has the support of most of the women and is hopeful of a victory.

Crowded affair for vice-presidents’ position

At a press conference post nominations at the MIC HQ, outgoing Youth leader T Mohan said that he will continue serving the community by vying for the vice-president’s position.

“I’m contesting because there is a vacancy among the vice-presidents as there are only two incumbents in M Saravanan and SK Devamany.

“The vice-president’s position will help me to continue playing a more active role in the party and gives me an opportunity to be directly involved in the highest echelon of the party,” he said.

He also pointed out that though there are eight leaders contesting for the vice-presidents’ post, he is confident that the delegates will make a wise choice in electing capable and effective leaders.