The MIC elections on Oct 20 will see a straight fight for the deputy president post between Tapah MP M Saravanan and former Perak MIC chairman M Ramasamy.

MIC Elections Committee chairman G Rajoo said both candidates submitted their nomination papers at the party headquarters today.

Rajoo said 10 candidates are vying for the three posts of vice-president, including incumbent T Mohan and former  Youth chief C Sivarraajh.

He also announced that 44 candidates, including former deputy education minister P. Kamalanathan, are contesting the 21 posts in the CWC.

Saravanan, when approached by reporters later, said he believed that his 30 years of service to the party will contribute to his victory as the deputy president.

He contested the post of deputy president in 2015 but lost by 17 votes to the current deputy president SK Devamany.

Ramasamy, on the other hand, said he will commit himself to serving the party and the community if elected deputy president.

SA Vigneswaran, who had won the MIC president post uncontested in July, endorsed Saravanan for deputy president, saying he is an “MIC strongman” committed to the party and is also an MP.

“Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that his (Saravanan’s) challenger Ramasamy is also an important leader as he is a well-known businessman,” he said when questioned by reporters at the close of the nominations.

Vigneswaran said only the delegates can decide who the eventual winners of the elections will be, and added that MIC remained relevant despite being an opposition party.

Former MIC president Samy Vellu was also present during the nominations.

- Bernama