KUALA LUMPUR: The race for the PKR vice presidency is hotting up, with another Indian grassroots leader throwing his hat into the ring. R Suresh Kumar, who was a former PKR Federal Territories deputy chairman, joined the fray by announcing his intention to contest for a vice-president post at the party elections scheduled end-October.
Party insiders said besides Suresh, other Indian contenders eyeing for the post are incumbent R Sivarasa, Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan and newcomer, former ISA detainee K Vasanthakumar.
When contacted by FMT, Suresh confirmed his intention, saying he had the blessings of party supremo Anwar Ibrahim.
"I had expressed my intention to Anwar who encouraged me to contest," he said.
Suresh, 45, who is an ordinary member of the Puchong PKR division, took a break from active politics in the last few years to complete the final phase of his PhD studies in business development at the Open University.
When asked what prompted him to contest, he said the party needed drastic changes, especially in championing issues affecting the lower income group.
"Besides, when you compare me with the other candidates, I have a better multi-racial appeal. I have travelled in most parts of the peninsula and the support I have been receiving is very encouraging," he said.
Asked what will be his next course of action if he fails in his bid, Suresh said he would continue serving the party and prepare it to face the Barisan Nasional in the next general election.
Meanwhile, a party insider said Suresh would be facing an uphill task in securing more support compared to Sivarasa and Gobalakrishnan, since both of them had been with Anwar since the early days of the Reformasi movement.
"Sivarasa and Gobalakrishnan are MPs. Suresh still has a long way to go before he can capture the hearts and minds of all PKR members," the party insider said.
It is learnt that PKR has some 400,000 members, and 20% of them are Indians.
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