Recent developments could see the much anticipated fireworks in the coming MIC elections not being ignited at all.

And the reason for this, according to one observer today, is that party president S Samy Vellu is already feeling the heat.

The veteran politician, who is the works minister, has come under much fire over the delay in remedial works to the Middle Ring Road 2 in Kuala Lumpur.

The minister's attempt to pin the blame on his subordinates in the ministry also backfired when an Umno politician torched him for being unfair and questioned the effectiveness of his leadership.

Adding more coal to the furnace, the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency last week against Samy Vellu on the MRR2 issue.

IPF is a MIC splinter party and it is an open secret that their respective presidents have an axe to grind.

Marked man?

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the observer told malaysiakini that Samy Vellu is aware that certain forces within Umno and the government want him out.

The MRR2 cracks, the source said, had created a window of opportunity for his detractors and the president will need all the support he can muster.

"Samy Vellu needs the party to be united and cannot afford a rift at the moment," he said.

Many were expecting a battle royale at the MIC polls after the president openly endorsed another candidate, vice-president G Palanivel, to take on his long-term deputy S Subramaniam.

Once again it is common knowledge that Subramaniam, who has since vowed to defend his post, is not on good terms with the president.

However, the observer said the flyover controversy could bridge the gap between them and bring the two leaders closer, at least politically.

The change in tone was evident over the weekend during the Thaipusam festival.

Samy Vellu, responding to queries on rumours that Subramaniam was not invited to take part in the religious ceremony, said: "We have no problem, our ties are good and he sits beside me."

Playing it safe

Even Palanivel appears to be playing it safe . Last week, he refused to comment on whether he would contest for the No. 2 post, beyond offering a cryptic answer that nominations are still a long way off.

"This is because he is unsure of what the next move could be. Samy Vellu and Subra ( photo ) could patch up and the president could turn around and insist on maintaining the status quo," said the observer.

He added that Palanivel would probably wait for the MIC divisional elections to conclude by the end of next month, where the support for the respective candidates can be gauged.

The MIC presidential elections will be held next month, in which Samy Vellu is expected to be returned unopposed. The contests for the other posts are slated for June.

The 'new' shocker

Meanwhile, the observer said another prominent thorn in the president's side is the recent uproar over the formation of MIC Baru .

According to him, the new entity is not linked to Samy Vellu or Subramaniam. Nevertheless, it revealed the discontent on the ground.

Those behind the party claimed to be former MIC members who were terminated or whose branches have been dissolved.

The momentum it gained was unexpected and this began to unnerve MIC, to the point that it's secretary-general lodged a police report.

"If ordinary ex-members could create such a furore by announcing their plans to form a new party, imagine what would happen to MIC if one of its top leaders were to do the same?" asked the observer.

These unexpected developments, he said, could alter the president's plans and extinguish any possibility of fireworks at the coming election.