Kuala Lumpur – When nominations for branches outside MIC closed yesterday at 6.00 pm, a total of 342 branches filed nominations nationwide indicating their willingness to return to the party. This means about 40% of the estimated 800 branches currently outside MIC have returned to the fold and it is seen as a significant victory for the leadership of Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam in uniting the party.
In an immediate response, Tan Sri S.Balakrishnan (pic), a key leader from Palanivel’s faction claimed that the nominations exercise is a failure but records from MIC headquarters revealed some 70-odd branches had filed nominations from Johor, the state which he once headed as state chairman.
Since nominations closed yesterday, whatsapp messages were also flying from Palanivel faction’s loyalists alleging that many of the branches which filed nominations were defunct branches and that the nomination exercise was a failure, but they still claimed some 260 branches genuinely filed, out of 1,800 branches reputedly outside the party.
However, political observers are of the opinion that the nominations process yesterday is a huge success for MIC, as the number must be seen in the light of constant pressures and blockades mooted by Palanivel’s faction.
It is also a grave set-back for Palanivel’s faction as they have now lost 40% of their support base. Although they claim that the number of branches outside MIC is 1800, until today they are unable to verify or confirm these figures through documentary evidence.
MIC sources pointed out that the number of branches outside the party is something that no one can simply speculate as it can be easily verified by Registrar of Societies.
Why such a big number came back?
Whatever said, it cannot be denied that bringing back 342 branches back into the party despite such vehement opposition is a success for the efforts taken by Dr Subra’s leadership in forging unity in the party.
Political observers following the recent events in MIC point out that the chaotic approach, conflicting statements and contradicting stands among Palanivel faction’s leaders – all put together – significantly contributed to the erosion as many branch leaders were irritated with the latest developments, prompting them to leave the faction.
“Palanivel is not leading the faction anymore and some are wary of Sothi-Bala leadership. Sothi was conspicuously missing from recent press conferences called by Bala and Ramalingam. One day they say they are going to re-open the MIC-RoS case and claim they have a good chance of winning which means Palanivel will be reinstated as President of MIC again. On another day, in one of their CWC meetings, Sothi says Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has clearly refused to accept Palanivel’s leadership and has advised them to return to the party and therefore the faction will not be headed by Palanivel anymore. On last Sunday Sothi and Bala held talks with BN Secretary General Tengku Adnan on the merger exercise but two days later, Ramalingam and Bala calls for a press conference raising allegations of conspiracy between RoS and MIC. Two days later they converge in MIC Headquarters for talks with MIC leaders but Sothi is missing in that scene. After the talks Ramalingam claimed he had been given a room in MIC HQ to facilitate the nomination process but later announced that their faction will not participate in the nominations. The contradictions are endless. Attacking party Deputy President Devamany was the last straw. I could not take anymore nonsense and I decided to file nominations yesterday” – said a fuming branch chairman from Palanivel’s faction.
Absence of Palanivel’s leadership -a contributing factor
The so-called Palanivel faction emerged because of the leadership tussle between Palanivel and Subra but Palanivel himself being removed as their leader brought down the morale of many branch chairmen who opted to join back the party as they did not have any confidence in the leadership of Sothinathan and Balakrishnan.
“Even now many of Palanivel’s loyal supporters are still sticking with the faction without returning to the party not because they support Sothi and Bala but they fear being labeled as traitors due to their long standing political affiliation with Palanivel during his heydays. They may not have filed nominations yesterday but it doesn’t mean they are going to carry on their political battle with Sothi-Bala-Ramalingam group anymore. In fact many in Palanivel’s faction have given up their hope and has decided to call it quit” – said a former division leader who was once a key ally of Palanivel.
With many branch leaders and other key figures from Palanivel’s faction giving up their hope and quitting politics, and with 342 branches returning to MIC, the question now is what remains in Palanivel’s faction and where do they go from here?
“They will not be able to reach out to RoS for any help or compromise because of the fierce allegations they have raised in the past. The court cases they are contemplating may take another 2 years to reach finality and whether they will succeed in the end is another matter. Their numbers having been reduced drastically as a result of which they do not have the clout anymore to negotiate or bargain with MIC leadership through the BN channels. In fact some political observers feel Palanivel’s faction lost the goodwill gesture of PM Najib and BN Secretary General Tengku Adnan in two glaring instances. First is when they raised allegations against RoS after meeting Tengku Adnan and second is marching into MIC Headquarters with supporters which resulted in attacks against Devamany” – said one observer.
Whether they will be given another opportunity for talks through BN channels is now doubtful.
Is there still hopes of reconciliation?
However, MIC sources said that there could still be a way out since the dateline for valid MIC branches to pay their respective subscription quota for the year 2016, is 31st of January 2016. Still there is hope for some reconciliation process to take place if both parties are willing to ‘give and take’ and there must be some genuine willingness on the part of Palanivel’s faction to join back the party without simply raising allegations and unreasonable demands.
Otherwise after 31st January 2016, the so called Palanivel’s faction, now reduced drastically in terms of number of branches and political strength will become a weak bloc without any legal avenues of returning to the party anymore.
Their only option then will be to operate as a political pressure group supportive of BN or the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan.
Alternatively, they may opt to form a new Indian based political party. But whether the same RoS – the authority which they have been barraging with numerous criticisms – will give them the approval for a new party is another matter altogether.
-R.Mutharasan
