Kuala Lumpur, Jan 18 – Speculations have surfaced in MIC circles that the party leadership has requested the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to modify their earlier decision and to allow the party to hold fresh election at all levels once again. This is because if the party’s triennial elections are held this year then the next elections has to be held once again next year (2016), within a period of one year.
According to sources, during the last few days, party President Dato Seri G.Palanivel has been conducting meeting with several MIC division leaders in small groups, telling them that together with the consent and cooperation from party Deputy President Dr Subramaniam, he has requested RoS to modify their decision to allow re-election for branches, divisions and national levels.
However, Dr Subramaniam is yet to confirm or deny his participation in the so called new proposal to RoS, purportedly mentioned by Palanivel to the division leaders.
MIC’s triennial elections were held in 2009 and the next one was due to be held in 2012. However, MIC, in line with other Barisan Nasional component parties, postponed the party elections to 2013 due to the impending general elections then.
The elections for 23 CWC and 3 Vice-presidents subsequently held in November 2013 have been declared null and void by RoS vide their letter dated 5th December 2015.
Palanivel’s new strategy to overcome party crisis
Sources close to Palanivel claim that Palani is now trying to overcome the party crisis by turning the RoS debacle into his favour.
He is meeting the division leaders in small groups asking them to support him in holding re-election for branches and divisions this year so that they can go on holding their respective positions for another 3 years until 2018.
Once the branch and division election are held this year then as a natural consequence, election for President, Deputy President, Vice-Presidents and CWC (Central Working Committee) have to be also held this year.
Palanivel is hoping that he will be re-elected as the President once again and thereby he would be able to continue as President for the next 3 years until 2018. GE 14 is also scheduled to be held in 2018 and therefore he would be able to continue as President and Minister until the next general election.
Sources close Palani also claim that by making this move, Palani is once again pushing Dr Subra into a dilemma “whether to challenge him for Presidency or remain as a Deputy President”.
By convincing Dr Subramaniam not to contest against him Palani would be able to pull another 3 years as President until GE 14.
Opposition from Division leaders
However, except for few close aides of Palanivel, the branch and division leaders are said to be vehemently opposed to the idea proposed by Palanivel. The party is in disarray now and clear splits are seen in each and every division between Palani and Dr Subra camps. If elections are called at this stage there will be bitter battles at division levels which may throw the party into further chaos.
Many division leaders feel that they might lose their respective positions to their opponents if the re-elections are held this year, especially those leaders who won with narrow margins in 2013 divisional elections.
All these moves by Palanivel are only subject to RoS confirmation, and MIC sources said Palanivel has already met Home Minister Ahmad Zahidi urging him to pressure RoS to agree to the new proposal (of having elections at all levels). This is the reason why Palanivel avoided taking Dr Subra along to meet the Home Minister as promised at the so called “Working Meeting” held on December 18th, 2013, the sources claimed.
The time-limit of 90 days given by RoS is due to expire on March 5th. 45 days have since passed without any clear signals from Palanivel whether he is agreeing to hold fresh elections as directed by RoS except to say that “they have written to RoS for extension of time”.
Again there is no clear-cut announcement from RoS as to their next moves if their directives are not adhered to.
Amidst such confusion, MIC leaders and grass-roots are waiting impatiently not knowing which direction to take!
