Sparks are flaring within MIC, and this time around, efforts to overthrow long-time party president S Samy Vellu might just succeed.
His son, Vell Paari (left), might just be the catalyst to lead to his father's downfall.
The party presidency has been 74-year-old Samy Vellu's lifeline for the past 31 years, and for a long while he had the support of the majority of Indians.
However, in the last general election, MIC suffered shocking blows which included the president losing his parliamentary seat in his onetime stronghold, Sungai Siput.
The party has yet to recover from those setbacks and Samy Vellu has been the one constant target of blame for the loss of the community's backing.
Speculation is rife that Umno is vexed by Samy Vellu's presence and as the 13th general election draws closer, they are reluctant to wait for his presidential term to expire in May 2012.
Last week, a new resistance, dubbed Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS), was launched, and in the front-line are some of his most vocal critics, namely, sacked central working committee (CWC) members KP Samy (right), G Kumar Amaan and deputy Youth chief V Mugilan.
It is much too soon to predict if the movement will snowball and lead to the resignation of Samy Vellu but it has stirred the hornets' nest as more are joining forces.
A source told Malaysiakini that the unrest was stirred after Vell Paari was appointed CWC member without the knowledge of the rest of the team.
"It was the straw that broke the camel's back," he said.
He explained that it was not so much the appointment of Vell Paari that is causing the unhappiness, "it was the way it was done".
"The president can appoint whoever he wants, we have no issues with that, but why do it behind our backs?" he asked.
"We were merely told he had been appointed and to welcome him in the meeting," he said.
He added that Samy Vellu who had kept his family out of the political loop, may have committed a major mistake by appointing his son without the support of the CWC.
Vell Paari speaks for dad
Vell Paari, has served as the Youth and Putra wing advisor, as well as the chairperson of the party's Unity and Community Development department, but never contested for position in any party poll.
It did not take long for the axed members to take notice of this. Branding the appointment as "nepotism" they derided Samy Vellu's choice.
Another CWC member hinted that the government is too not favourable towards Samy Vellu (left) retaining his post.
Although he had refused to divulge further details, he said that no one is happy except Samy Vellu's appointees.
The situation, has become even more complicated, as Vell Paari has accused at BN partner Umno of honing "political assassins" against his father, said the source.
"What is even more irksome is that he is saying this on the behalf of the MIC without discussing the claim with the CWC nor did he say it was his personal opinion," said the source.
Vell Paari, in an interview with Free Malaysia Today accused Umno of being condenscending towards component parties like MIC and MCA and attributed much of the losses during the general election to Umno.
"He is now speaking on the behalf of his father, and the president of the party. But it is the deputy who is supposed to be doing this. Where this is going to lead we don't know," he said, fearing the move might be the end of the relationship between BN and MIC altogether.
His son, Vell Paari (left), might just be the catalyst to lead to his father's downfall.
The party presidency has been 74-year-old Samy Vellu's lifeline for the past 31 years, and for a long while he had the support of the majority of Indians.
However, in the last general election, MIC suffered shocking blows which included the president losing his parliamentary seat in his onetime stronghold, Sungai Siput.
The party has yet to recover from those setbacks and Samy Vellu has been the one constant target of blame for the loss of the community's backing.
Speculation is rife that Umno is vexed by Samy Vellu's presence and as the 13th general election draws closer, they are reluctant to wait for his presidential term to expire in May 2012.
It is much too soon to predict if the movement will snowball and lead to the resignation of Samy Vellu but it has stirred the hornets' nest as more are joining forces.
A source told Malaysiakini that the unrest was stirred after Vell Paari was appointed CWC member without the knowledge of the rest of the team.
"It was the straw that broke the camel's back," he said.
He explained that it was not so much the appointment of Vell Paari that is causing the unhappiness, "it was the way it was done".
"The president can appoint whoever he wants, we have no issues with that, but why do it behind our backs?" he asked.
"We were merely told he had been appointed and to welcome him in the meeting," he said.
He added that Samy Vellu who had kept his family out of the political loop, may have committed a major mistake by appointing his son without the support of the CWC.
Vell Paari speaks for dad
Vell Paari, has served as the Youth and Putra wing advisor, as well as the chairperson of the party's Unity and Community Development department, but never contested for position in any party poll.
Another CWC member hinted that the government is too not favourable towards Samy Vellu (left) retaining his post.
Although he had refused to divulge further details, he said that no one is happy except Samy Vellu's appointees.
The situation, has become even more complicated, as Vell Paari has accused at BN partner Umno of honing "political assassins" against his father, said the source.
"What is even more irksome is that he is saying this on the behalf of the MIC without discussing the claim with the CWC nor did he say it was his personal opinion," said the source.
Vell Paari, in an interview with Free Malaysia Today accused Umno of being condenscending towards component parties like MIC and MCA and attributed much of the losses during the general election to Umno.
"He is now speaking on the behalf of his father, and the president of the party. But it is the deputy who is supposed to be doing this. Where this is going to lead we don't know," he said, fearing the move might be the end of the relationship between BN and MIC altogether.
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