Deputy President Contest Between Me And Subramaniam, Says Palanivel

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Incumbent MIC deputy president Datuk G.Palanivel said on Friday the contest for the Number Two post in the party was between him and former MIC deputy president Datuk S.Subramaniam.

He said the third candidate in the fray, Datuk S.Sothinathan, would end up with the lowest percentage of the votes.

"I am not saying this...but whenever I meet the people (delegates), they are telling this," he told a press conference at the MIC headquarters here.

In the press conference, held about three hours after the campaigning period ended at noon today, Palanivel also said both his and Subramaniam's support base were intact.

When asked about speculation that some of his supporters were switching camps to Subramaniam, Palanivel said he had no knowledge of this.

"Maybe one or two," he admitted later.

However, he said there were some of his supporters who had switched camps to Sothinathan.

Palanivel who expressed confidence of defending his post, said that party president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu's support was important for him as well other candidates endorsed by Samy Vellu.

"Without the support (of Samy Velu)... we have to go against the wave," he said, adding that all the endorsed candidates had also worked hard to secure votes.

"With (Samy Vellu's) support, work is much easier (but) we are not resting on our laurels," he said in the joint press conference attended by Samy Vellu endorsed three vice president aspirants, namely Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam, Datuk S.K. Devamany and Datuk M.Saravanan.

Palanivel said that even winning with a one vote margin was still a win in the democratic process.

Subramaniam, who is the Human Resource Minister, said that delegates should give the three endorsed vice president aspirants strong support in order for them to be a strong voice in the government.

Both Devamany (Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) and Saravanan (Deputy Federal Territories Minister) said that it was important for a strong and united MIC to face the next general election and to regain the Indian community's support.

-- BERNAMA