The remaining independent candidate for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election tonight withdrew his candidacy resulting in a straight fight between the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat candidates.

In a startling development, Bernama reports that Johan Mohd Diah, 31, signed his withdrawal papers at Hulu Selangor Land and District Office at Kuala Kubu Baru at 9.05pm. He declined to speak to reporters and left immediately.

Election Commission deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar had earlier today said that candidates wishing to withdraw from the by-election had only until midnight tonight.

The latest development comes hot on the heels on the move by businessman VS Chandran this afternoon to withdraw his candidacy as an independent from the Hulu Selangor by-election.

NONE Chandran officially notified Returning Officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan of his decision, at the District and Land Office in Kuala Kubu Baru about 1.30pm.

On nomination day last Saturday, Election Commission Returning Officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan had announced BN's P Kamalanathan, PKR's Zaid Ibrahim and independents Chandran and Johan ( left ) as the official candidates for the Hulu S'gor by-election.

No objections were filed with the EC.

With Johan’s withdrawal tonight, the crucial by-election will now be a straight tussle between PKR’s Zaid and MIC’s Kamalanathan.

Party disciplinary action

Chandran and Johan were both threatened with dismissals from their parties, MIC and Umno respectively, for working against party interests in standing as independents against the BN candidates.

NONE Yesterday, MIC President S Samy Vellu had said that Chandran ( left ), the former Hulu Selangor MIC vice-chairperson, would be expelled from the party today.

He said a letter to this effect would be handed over to Chandran, whom he said had breached the party rules and principles by standing as an independent in the April 25 by-election.

As for Johan, soon after nomination on Saturday, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the Shah Alam Umno Youth committee member would 'definitely be sacked' by Umno.

"We will recommend his sacking to the Umno disciplinary board," said Khairy who is also BN Youth chief. He said he believed that Johan was 'sponsored' to divide the Malay vote.

Chose ‘hoe’ symbol

Just hours earlier tonight, Johan said he had chosen the ‘hoe’ symbol for the by-election as it was symbolic to the farmers and settlers in the constituency.

NONE At a media conference in front of his mother's house at Desa Maju, Sungai Tengi, which is also his operations room, he said the selection of the symbol was appropriate as he was targeting the 20,000 young voters and settlers, and the more than 6,000 Felda second generation.

The Hulu Selangor by-election is being held following the death of the incumbent representative from the PKR Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad, due to brain cancer on March 25.

Fifty-three percent of the 64,500 voters in the constituency are Malays, while the Chinese community makes up 26 percent, Indians (19 percent) and about 1,000 Orang Asli.