analysis Entering the last 24 hours of MCA party polls, former president Ong Ka Ting is facing strong allegations by opponents that he is behind the conspiracy to topple his successor Ong Tee Keat to facilitate his political comeback.

Both Tee Keat and former deputy president Chua Soi Lek who are engaged in a three-corner presidential race with Ka Ting had alleged that the eight-month party infighting was provoked by a hidden "third force".

NONE According to them, the "third force" was pulling the strings behind the Oct 10 extraordinary annual general meeting (EGM) which passed a motion of no-confidence against Ong Tee Keat ( right ) as well as rejected Chua's attempt to claim back his deputy president post.

Although no name was mentioned, the "third force" was a general reference to former vice-president Liow Tiong Lai's camp with Ong Ka Ting said to be the mastermind.

The conspiracy's ultimate objective was to unhorse Tee Keat and set the stage for Ka Ting's return.

Liow is contesting for deputy president from Ka Ting's camp.

Although Ka Ting had repeatedly rubbished the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, the conspiracy theory had and will continue to haunt his campaign right till the last lap.

Rising danger for Ka Ting

Another new development that may tip the balance are the surveys outside the party which showed Tee Keat as the public's favourite candidate.

Besides the survey done by independent pollster Merdeka Centre, an online survey by the English business daily The Edge and Chinese daily K wong Wah Yit Poh revealed the same trend.

ong ka ting interview 200310 05 The online polls conducted by The Edge from March 16 to 20 requested netizens to vote on the question "who do you think is the best man for the MCA president post?"

Out of the 1788 votes registered, Tee Keat ( left ) topped the list with 55.4 percent followed by Ka Ting, 23.9 percent and Chua, 16.8 percent.

In the Kwong Wah Yit Poh's survey which is still running, Tee Keat overwhelmed both his opponents with a whopping 79 percent support out of the total of 790 votes whereas Chua and Ka Ting only garnered 12 and 9 percent respectively.

Should these public opinion surveys outside the party swing the 2,400-odd central delegates' sentiment at the eleventh hour towards Tee Keat, the biggest casualty would be Ka Ting.

The results of three-cornered fight for deputy president in the previous polls in 2008 and the Oct 10 EGM showed that Chua commanded a solid support of 1,110 or 46% of the votes.

NONE In previous party polls, Chua ( right ) faced the challenge of Ka Ting who was the outgoing president who then backed his elder brother Ong Ka Chuan for the number two post.

A year later he encountered Tee Keat and Liow's camp at the Oct 10 EGM.

Although facing two different forces within the party, Chua managed to maintain his support in these two events, securing 1,115 and 1,110 votes respectively.

Hence political analysts believe should Tee Keat's support rise in the last minute due to the external support, this could shatter Ka Ting's political comeback.