Palanivel to face two challengers for Malay Indian Congress deputy post

Kuala Lumpur, Aug.23 (ANI): Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) deputy president G. Palanivel will be challenged by two party heavyweights in the September 12 party polls.

Vice-president S. Sothinathan, 49, and former deputy president S. Subramaniam, 64, filed their nomination papers yesterday to confirm the three-way battle for the No. 2 post, reports The Star.

The nominations went on smoothly compared to three years ago when there was pushing and shoving between the supporters of Palanivel and Subramaniam.

In 2006, Palanivel garnered a 438-vote win over Subramaniam, who had had held the number two position since 1981.

Meanwhile, secretary-general Dr S. Subramaniam, treasurer S.K. Devamany and information chief M. Saravanan are among the eight contenders for the three vice-president posts.

The other five in the race are Johor MIC treasurer S. Balakrishnan, former Federal Territory MIC chief V.K.K. Teagarajan, Jelebu division leader P. Mariayee, Kelana Jaya division vice-chairman P. Subramaniam and former central working committee member K.P. Samy.

MIC election committee chairman K. Vijayanathan said a total of 65 candidates had filed nomination papers for the 23 seats in the central working committee, the highest decision-making body in the MIC.

A total of 1,464 delegates will cast their votes in the party polls to select the deputy president who will succeed Samy Vellu as president after his term ends in 2012. (ANI)