Kuala Lumpur, June 19 – The much awaited suspense on who would be the 3 Senators representing MIC might be over by Monday 23rd of June as they are expected to be sworn in on that day.
MIC sources said that the three Senators are Dato Sothinathan, Dato R.Ganesan and Dato S.A.Vigneswaran.
Dato Sothinathan won the MIC Vice Presidential race last year with the highest number of votes and he is also currently the State Chairman for MIC Negri Sembilan.
Sothinathan has also served as former MP of Teluk Kemang and as a Deputy Minister. He was also the former political secretary of former party President Dato Seri S.Samy Vellu.
Vigneswaran, who was the former national youth leader of MIC has also served as the MP for Kota Raja during the term between 2004 and 2008. He was also a Parliamentary Secretary during this period.
He lost the Kota Raja seat in 2008 general election.
He also failed in his bid for a vice-presidential slot in last year’s MIC elections.
Dato R.Ganesan is currently the state chairman for MIC Perak. A lawyer by profession, he has also served as a State Assemblyman and the Speaker for the Perak State Assembly.
It is not immediately known whether Ganesan’s Senate position is a new one allocated to MIC as promised by the Perak Menteri Besar during the 13 GE or it is the same senate earlier held by MIC.
During 13GE, MIC gave up one state seat in Perak in lieu of a Senate position, a decision by party president G.Palanivel which is often criticised by MIC stalwarts as an erosion of government positions accorded to MIC.
Palanivel mends ties with Vigneswaran
The new appointments indicate that MIC President has roped in the support of Vigneswaran with whom his relationship soured in recent times.
Palanivel supported Vigneswaran to be elected as one of the 3 MIC Vice Presidents and openly declared his support for him in MIC meetings.
However, when Vigneswaran lost in the election he complained of malpractices in the electoral process and is said to have referred the matter to the Registrar of Societies.
The decision of Registrar of Societies is still pending on the various complaints lodged against the party leadership for alleged malpractices in the MIC elections held in November 2013.
