Apart from some minor changes to the list, the most shocking was that the largest Indian-based party in the country would not field any women candidates.
Sources revealed that although Palanivel had submitted a list of potential candidates, the meeting on Aug 28 would “finalise everything including two seat swaps”.
The source said that Palanivel had a meeting with the party’s women’s wing towards the end of July.
“And the outcome of the meeting shocked the wing as the president decided not to field any women candidates for the general election,” he added.
The source also claimed that Palanivel was peeved when only six representatives from the women’s wing turned up for the meeting.
In the last general election, MIC fielded four women, one for a parliamentary seat and the rest for state assembly seats.
Of the four, only T Murukasvary managed to retain the Tenggaroh state seat in Johor defeating PAS member Shahar Abdullah with a large majority of 8,233 votes.
Wanita MIC chief Komala Krishnamoorthy was defeated in the Kapar parliamentary seat by PKR’s S Manikavasagam.
However, the source claimed that the MIC leadership would also drop Murukasvary for the coming polls.
“Palanivel has decided to close the door to women candidates since the next general election will be toughest in the history of MIC,” he told FMT.
He said the president only wanted winnable candidates and the latter felt that those from the women’s wing would not make the cut.
The source also pointed out that the women’s wing had not performed up to expectations since the 2008 general election.
“Just look at the Wanita office in the party headquarters… it has remained locked for the last four to five months,” he added.
The source also said speculation was rife that Wanita MIC might boycott the polls as a result of the president’s decision.
“But I believe it will not happen since the women’s wing depends on the party’s top leadership for funds,” he added.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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