SHAH ALAM: MIC president Datuk Seri G Palanivel can breathe easier now after his men have won most of the top posts in the nearly-concluded divisional elections.
In Selangor especially, almost all of Palanivel’s men have been elected to the chairman’s post.
The state, which has the largest number of delegates with almost 30 per cent of the 1,450 delegates nationwide, has become Palanivel’s fort in the coming party elections.
The race is now between Palanivel’s men and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam who was to have challenged his boss for the presidency but had settled to defend his position following a no-contest deal, brokered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Under the deal, Palanivel gets to keep his position, inherited from former party supremo Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, until 2016 before passing the party reins to Subramaniam.
Palanivel has already won his president’s post uncontested.
Recent developments in the party suggest that there is an attempt to get rid of Subramaniam and his line-up of leaders for the party’s three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members.
The reason is simple: Palanivel needs to have his team of people holding top positions in the party for his own political survival as he had hinted after winning the position unopposed on Sept 1 that he may stay beyond his term.
He quickly made an about-turn but critics said Palanivel purposely said it (he will stay on) to send a message to his men that they will not be abandoned.
Division elections, which began last month, saw almost the whole of Selangor falling into the hands of Palanivel’s men.
Divisions like Kota Raja, Shah Alam and Sepang whose leaders are Subramaniam’s ardent supporters, found themselves losing to Palanivel’s team.
Subang, Ampang and Hulu Selangor are among divisions which were retained and won by Palanivel’s men.
“There is a complete wipe-out of Subramaniam’s supporters.
These were leaders who supported Subramniam to mount a challenge to Palanivel for the presidency earlier,’’ said a source.
He said the division leaders who lost their chairmanship were also Samy Vellu’s hardcore supporters.
The biggest casualty is Gambir state assemblyman and CWC member M Asojan who lost in his bid to retain his Ledang division. Asojan is viewed as an ardent supporter of Subramaniam.
“The MIC division election has strengthened Palanivel and whoever he has endorsed. The message is clear: Palanivel and his men are ready to take over,’’ said the source.
It will be an uphill battle for Subramaniam and his men to win the party’s top positions as delegates will usually toe the line of division leaders.
The source said Palanivel has already identified Subramaniam’s supporters during the run-up to the presidential election and fears more heads will roll as the division elections come to a close soon.
Source : http://www.theantdaily.com/news/2013/10/08/palanivels-men-capture-most-divisions
In Selangor especially, almost all of Palanivel’s men have been elected to the chairman’s post.
The state, which has the largest number of delegates with almost 30 per cent of the 1,450 delegates nationwide, has become Palanivel’s fort in the coming party elections.
The race is now between Palanivel’s men and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam who was to have challenged his boss for the presidency but had settled to defend his position following a no-contest deal, brokered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Under the deal, Palanivel gets to keep his position, inherited from former party supremo Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, until 2016 before passing the party reins to Subramaniam.
Palanivel has already won his president’s post uncontested.
Recent developments in the party suggest that there is an attempt to get rid of Subramaniam and his line-up of leaders for the party’s three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee members.
The reason is simple: Palanivel needs to have his team of people holding top positions in the party for his own political survival as he had hinted after winning the position unopposed on Sept 1 that he may stay beyond his term.
He quickly made an about-turn but critics said Palanivel purposely said it (he will stay on) to send a message to his men that they will not be abandoned.
Division elections, which began last month, saw almost the whole of Selangor falling into the hands of Palanivel’s men.
Divisions like Kota Raja, Shah Alam and Sepang whose leaders are Subramaniam’s ardent supporters, found themselves losing to Palanivel’s team.
Subang, Ampang and Hulu Selangor are among divisions which were retained and won by Palanivel’s men.
“There is a complete wipe-out of Subramaniam’s supporters.
These were leaders who supported Subramniam to mount a challenge to Palanivel for the presidency earlier,’’ said a source.
He said the division leaders who lost their chairmanship were also Samy Vellu’s hardcore supporters.
The biggest casualty is Gambir state assemblyman and CWC member M Asojan who lost in his bid to retain his Ledang division. Asojan is viewed as an ardent supporter of Subramaniam.
“The MIC division election has strengthened Palanivel and whoever he has endorsed. The message is clear: Palanivel and his men are ready to take over,’’ said the source.
It will be an uphill battle for Subramaniam and his men to win the party’s top positions as delegates will usually toe the line of division leaders.
The source said Palanivel has already identified Subramaniam’s supporters during the run-up to the presidential election and fears more heads will roll as the division elections come to a close soon.
Source : http://www.theantdaily.com/news/2013/10/08/palanivels-men-capture-most-divisions
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