As party rivals jostle to contest in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, Umno strongman Mohd Isa Samad, who is the incumbent parliamentarian, may find himself out in the cold in the coming general election.

Isa's main competitor is Jempol BN and Umno chief Mohd Salim Sharif, who was once his political secretary. Salim took over Jempol Umno division in 2013 and was appointed senator a year later...