MIC deputy president G Palanivel said today he was the only leader named by the party to be considered by the prime minister as the candidate for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.

"I'm the only one named by the MIC; this is because I'm the Hulu Selangor MIC division chief as well as the Selangor MIC chairman and party deputy president," he told Bernama in Batang Kali today.

NONE The MIC was previously said to have submitted several names to the BN chairperson, Najib Razak, for the by-election on April 25.

Palanivel, a four-term member of parliament for the area until his defeat in the March 2008 general election, is said to be the BN candidate despite calls that an Umno leader be nominated for the area.

Palanivel admitted that there were attempts to lobby for other names to be considered but said that it was to the prime minister to decide.

The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent MP Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad of PKR due to brain cancer on March 25.

The nomination day is on April 17.

- Bernama