Despite recent developments suggesting otherwise, MIC vice-president G Palanivel said the party remains strong.

Things have begun to heat up as the party elections, slated for next month, draws nearer and observers are predicting a contest full of fireworks.

But Palanivel sees no cause for alarm. "There's no problem, they're mostly non-issues," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

He was responding to the setting-up of MIC Baru and the rumblings in the MIC Youth.

He said the nominations at the branch and divisional levels went smoothly yesterday with many of the candidates returned unopposed.

"The MIC is in good shape," he added.

Challenging Subra?

However, he declined to comment when asked if he would challenge deputy president S Subramaniam in the elections, except to say that the nominations were still a long way off.

Palanivel has been openly endorsed by party president S Samy Vellu for the number two slot, causing much dissatisfaction in the incumbent's camp.

Subramaniam ( right ) has vowed to defend his post but refuted suggestions that he would go for broke and challenge the president.

Last week, it was announced that a new party called MIC Baru would be formed to represent some 50,000 to 100,000 former MIC members.

It was said that the new entity would serve as a platform for those who are out of MIC but remain supportive of Barisan Nasional and have no intentions of joining any other component parties.

Those behind it denied that the new party was linked to Subramaniam, who later confirmed this.

However, another question was recently raised as to whether the new party was part of a strategy to end the deputy president's political career.

MIC Baru was registered this afternoon.

Besides the new party, MIC also faced the issue of its former Youth secretary S.Murugesan resigning two weeks ago. He is expected to vie for a higher post in the movement.