July 19 – Hitting the MIC Presidential election campaign trail yesterday, party Deputy President Dato Seri Dr Subramaniam told the branch chairmen from MIC Wilayah Persekutuan State congress that there is a need to reinvigorate the party with good leadership at all levels.
He was speaking to MIC branch chairmen from MIC Wilayah Persekutuan who had gathered for a dinner with him at a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The dinner campaign was organised by MIC Wilayah Persekutuan state congress and State Chairman Dato M.Saravanan, who is also the Deputy Minister of Sports.
No mention of Presidential contest…
However, Dr Subramnaniam did not specifically mentioned about forthcoming presidential election or whether he would contest for the top post, as speculated widely.
A branch chairman who attended the meeting, without disclosing his identity, said: “Dr Subra and Saravanan spoke at the dinner. Both did not mention anything about presidential election in their speeches. They only said there is an urgent need for leadership change to revitalize the party and to make it relevant in the next 3 years for us to prepare for the next general election. But the message to the branch chairmen gathered was loud and clear – that there is a contest and be prepared for it. Otherwise, why say about leadership change?”
Dr Subramaniam also said that before GE-13 the prime minister advised him to go for a safer seat as at that point of time Segamat was not considered a safe seat. “However, I did not run away from my seat and still contested and won based on my track-record” Dr Subra said, obviously indirectly pointing to the fact that Palanivel has switched to a safer seat.
Subra also said there is a need to create new and young leadership at all levels to make MIC much stronger and prepare it for the next general election.
Saravanan also calls for leadership change
MIC Wilayah Persekutuan state chairman M.Saravanan, who is leading the campaign for Dr Subra, in his speech also emphasized on the need for change of leadership to ensure the party is relevant in the coming years.
Saravanan also reminded the branch chairmen that the Health Ministry is a very important ministry which ranks among the most important ministries of the government and Dr Subra’s appointment to that ministry signals his leadership qualities and the confidence placed in him by the Prime Minister.
Subra-Saravanan’s campaign team!
The dinner-campaign also witnessed the possible campaign team of Subra-Saravanan. Although, the dinner was organised for Wilayah Persekutuan branch chairmen, it was attended by MIC Youth leader T.Mohan, Asojhan, a state assemblyman from Johor, S.Ananthan who was removed as Kedah Chairman and Perak Speaker S.K.Devamany.
S.Vel Paari, who was removed as nominated CWC member also attended the dinner campaign. He is also a branch chairman from MIC Wilayah Persekutuan.
Nominations for MIC Presidential election is set for 1st of September and the election will be held on the 22nd of September.
