10,000 turn up in show of support for Palanivel as MIC president

Embattled MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel with his supporters in the Putra ‎World Trade Centre today. He is fighting to remain the head of the country’s largest ethnic Indian-based party. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, June 20, 2015.Shouts and cheers rang out as embattled MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel made his way into Dewan Merdeka, in the Putra ‎World Trade Centre (PWTC), where some 10,000 supporters and party members gathered in a show of solidarity for their leader.

Wearing a huge smile, he waved enthusiastically at the crowd, walking towards the stage accompanied ‎by senior leaders of the country’s largest ethnic Indian-based party, who were aligned to him.

Palanivel is facing the toughest time of his career yet and is engaged in a ‎leadership tussle following the Registrar of Society's order for MIC to hold fresh elections.‎

Declaring that he would not back down from the fight, Palanivel today said he was still the rightful MIC president and today's gathering showed he still commanded support.

On Monday, he issued a press statement announcing the 12-month suspensions of his deputy Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam and 13 others for holding a central working committee (CWC) meeting the next day, which he said was illegal.

The drama heightened when Subramaniam terminatedPalanivel's membership in that CWC meeting, which also appointed him the acting president to replace the latter.

Today's event marks the first time Palanivel has sought to reinforce his position in the party, following his sacking.