Ex anti-Samy man to go for MIC Youth post

The 38-year-old businessman will be challenged by MIC Youth secretary general C.Sivarajah, who announced his intention last Tuesday.

"I have decided to contest to help the leadership to strengthen and unite the party. I will continue with my work (which) I had undertaken since I became the deputy youth chief in 2009," Mugilan told Bernama.

Nominations for the party's Youth and Wanita wings will be held tomorrow while elections for the two wings are slated for Nov 16.

An outspoken leader, Mugilan rose to prominence when he together with two central working committee (CWC) members were sacked in 2010 after criticising then MIC supremo Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu.

They formed Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu, better known as GAS.

Later, GAS was disbanded after president Datuk Seri G.Palanivel took over MIC in January, and on April 23, Palanivel decided to reinstate Mugilan.

For the deputy youth leader's post, Melaka state deputy youth leader and lawyer Sashi Kumar Kannan had announced his decision to contest for the post. Sashi will be challenged by R.Thinalan, MIC Youth legal bureau head.

The battle for the MIC presidency did not take place as on Sept 1, incumbent MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel retained his post for another term.

No contest is expected to take place for MIC's top two positions in a move to strengthen the party by avoiding divisive politics at the top. This followed a reported deal brokered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in August to prevent a tussle.

Under the terms of the deal, Palanivel will pass over the leadership baton to Subramaniam six months before his term expires in September 2016.

Online portal theantdaily recently reported that the posts of deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee (CWC) seats, were still all up for grabs.

While the talk is that Sungai Siput MIC division chief M Loganathan may challenge incumbent deputy president and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam, other sources claimed otherwise.

The field for the vice-president posts is expected to be crowded.

Rumoured contenders included MIC strategy director S Vell Paari, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Datuk S Saravanan, Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk SK Devamany, former secretary-general Datuk T Rajagopalu, former vice-president Datuk S Sothinathan, party Putera coordinator P Kamalanathan, former Youth chief SA Vigneswaran, former secretary-general Datuk S Murugesan, party Youth chief T Mohan, Johor Baru division chairman Datuk S Balakrishnan and treasurer-general Datuk Jaspal Singh.

On Tuesday, Sothinathanput to rest speculations when he announced his decision to contest the post of vice-presidency.

The 53-year-old former natural resources and environment deputy minister said he arrived at the decision after discussing with party president Palanivel, grassroots leaders and the public.

Nominations for the deputy, three vice-president and 23 CWC positions is scheduled to be held on Nov 16 . The election proper for the central positions are expected on Nov 30.