The MCA elections will kick off Thursday with the 48th MCA Youth National Annual Assembly and election at the party's headquarters here.

The Youth election sees a packed field with 69 candidates fighting for 34 posts.

The post of Youth chief will see a straight fight between MCA Education Bureau head Chong Sin Woon and Batu division Youth chief Datuk Goh Gaik Meng.

Wanita MCA’s elections on Friday, however, will be a relatively tame affair with just 43 candidates in the race for 31 posts.

Wanita MCA vice-chief Datuk Heng Saie Kie will be facing Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) information chief Tan Cheng Liang for the number one post in Wanita.

Both the top two posts became vacant after youth leader Datuk Wee Ka Siong and Wanita chief Datuk Yu Chok Tow decided not to defend their seats.

At the nominations on Monday, Datuk Lee Pit Chern won the Wanita number two slot uncontested.

The spotlight will be on the three-cornered tussle for the presidency between deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, vice-president Gan Ping Sieu and former president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

For the post of deputy president, Dr Wee will be in a straight fight with vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.

Wee, who is serving his third term as Ayer Hitam member of Parliament, is Liow's running mate while Lim is said to be aligned to outgoing MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

This is the second bid by Ong for the number one post after losing it to Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in 2010. It is also the second try by Lim after also losing to Dr Chua in the 2008 elections.

Nine candidates are in the running for the four vice-president seat while 58 are contesting the 25 central committee member seats.