Vell Paari: Unfair to ask Palanivel to resign

This is the opinion of MIC Central Working Committee member S. Vell Paari who was responding to the call of former MIC Youth leader CK Chandran for Palanivel’s resignation over the party’s ‘dismal’ performance.

“The party’s performance in the 13th general election was not dismal.

“In fact, MIC has done better in the 2013 general election than the 2008 general election. In 2008, MIC won only three of the nine parliamentary seats, eventhough it won a fourth seat through a by election.

“In the 2013 general election, MIC won four parliamentary seat, one additional seat from the previous election,” Vell Paari told Astro Awani.

Vell Paari explained that MIC’s key performance index (KPI) has also increased drastically.

“In the 2008 general election, MIC delivered between 25 per cent to 40 per cent Indian votes to Barisan Nasional (BN).

“In the 2013 general election, MIC managed to deliver between 65 per cent to 75 per cent Indian votes to BN.

“Not only that, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has openly declared that Indian votes have helped the success of BN in the 13th general election. So, it is not fair to say that the party suffered from dismal performance and it is totally uncalled for to ask Palanivel to resign,” he said.

Vell Paari said what is more important now is for MIC to channel more benefits towards the Indian community with the help of Najib.

“We must put a stop to the internal squabbles and work towards how to help the Indian community more,” he said.

Reports of Chandran urging Palanivel to step down were published a Tamil daily, which have been picked up by other media as well.

Chandran had said that since Palanivel took over the MIC leadership three years ago, nothing much has changed as shown by the election results.

"Palanivel chose to contest in Cameron Highlands as it is considered a safe seat. The seat was originally contested by Datuk S.K. Devamany in 2008 but he was moved to Sungai Siput in GE13, where he lost to PKR.

"I believe Palanivel wanted Cameron Highlands because he knew that he could not win in Sungai Siput, so he switched with Devamani," Chandran was quoted as saying.

He added that Palanivel assured MIC members that the party would win 90 per cent of the seats that was allocated to the party to justify his move to Cameron Highlands.

He said MIC needs capable leaders. He said he has nothing against Palanivel personally and his intention of highlighting the president's failings is for the sake of the party.