MIC central working committee (CWC) member Mohana Muniandy has been elected Wanita chief, following the wing's party polls today.

She won by a 178-vote majority in a straight fight with national women's secretary M Vickneswari. Mohana garnered 344 votes while Vickneswari received 166 votes.

The results were announced by the party's deputy election steering committee chairperson S Kumaran at 6.30pm.

The post of Wanita deputy chief went to Tapah division women's wing leader P Prema who obtained 354 votes. She defeated Pagoh division Wanita chief K Nirmala who secured 159 votes.

Mohana's team also swept clean all posts contested today, namely two CWC, 12 national women council and 35 delegates for the MIC General Assembly on Nov 30, in Malacca.

About 560 delegates voted at this election.

At a press conference after the results were announced, Mohana, 37, a lecturer by profession, believed her victory was due to the demand for a young leader to lead Wanita MIC members.

"I will fulfill my promises, among others, to create business opportunities for Indian women and bring awareness to political literacy. I will bring vast changes to strengthen Indian women in the party, as well as Barisan Nasional," she told reporters after her victory was announced.

Celebrating her victory with tears of joy with her family and supporters, Mohana said she was determined to increase membership in Wanita MIC to strengthen the wing, and would encourage more women to join, as well.

She also thanked MIC president G Palanivel and the women delegates for trusting and choosing her to lead the wing.

Sivarraajh is new Youth chief

Meanwhile, MIC Youth secretary C Sivarraajh has been elected the new Youth chief.

The special officer to the Perak menteri besar won by a 44-vote majority in a straight fight against Youth deputy chief V. Mugilan.

Sivarraajh garnered 278 votes to Mugilan's 234 votes.

The post of Youth deputy chief was won by the wing's legal bureau head R Thinalan who secured 321 votes while his opponent, Melaka Youth deputy leader and lawyer Sashi Kumar Kannan obtained 188 votes.

Former Youth chief T Mohan's team also swept clean the posts of two Central Working Committee, 12 national Youth council members and 35 delegates. Mohan is vying for the MIC vice-president's post.

At a press conference after the results were announced, Sivarraajh said he was not happy with the majority he had obtained.

Nevertheless, he was thankful to the delegates who gave him the mandate to lead the Youth team.

- Bernama