MIC on warpath, with move to stop CWC meet

The internal strife in MIC following the order from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to the party to re-elect its national leadership except for the top two positions became more apparent today as a member moved to stop its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Former MIC Youth chief T Mohan, who represents the slew of members who complained about irregularities in last year’s MIC elections, sent an open letter to party secretary-general A Prakash Rao and to the ROS, demanding that the CWC meet be stopped.

This, Mohan (left) said, is because the ROS directive clearly states that the CWC election on Nov 30, 2013, is not recognised, and as such the CWC elected last year is invalid and should not call for a meeting.

Instead, the CWC elected in 2009 is the one that should sit down and discuss resolutions to resolve the ROS directive, he said.

"When ROS said that the the party election is not recognised, the CWC and vice-presidents who were elected automatically have their positions cancelled," he said.

In his letter to ROS, Mohan called on the registrar to direct MIC to cancel the CWC meeting scheduled to start at 2pm.

Despite the directive stating that the party re-election should take place within 90 days of the directive, MIC had dallied on the matter.

Party president G Palanivel, who is coming under increasing pressure, has said that the party intends to "appeal" to ROS and Home Ministry on the directive.

Party disciplinary committee chairperson KS Nijhar had said that MIC should “reject” the ROS directive.

Previously, MIC senator A Vigneswaran challenged Nijhar to a "public debate" on his “reject” statement.

A group of MIC members has already staged a forum and protest at the MIC headquarters, calling for Palanivel's resignation.