PKR vice-president Tian Chua will contest for the post of deputy president in the coming PKR elections.

"Yes, I will submit my candidacy form tomorrow," Tian Chua is quoted by party organ Keadilan Daily as saying.

This puts him in a three-cornered fight with incumbent Azmin Ali and Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who is also eyeing the post.

Last month after a series of public jousts with Azmin, Khalid sprang a surprise by announcing his intention to contest.

Pundits see Khalid's candidacy as a move that could widen fissures within the party.

The possible proxy war also seems imminent with the party's deputy Wanita chief Rodziah Ismail announcing today that she will take on Zuraida Kamaruddin for the top post in the wing.

"The Wanita leadership and grassroots have been urging for a change and for competent leadership in the Wanita wing," the Batu Tiga assemblyperson said in a statement today.

This comes as Zuraida, ( left ) who is also Ampang MP, announced that she will defend her post “due to positive feedback requesting for continuity” in the wing.

"However, I also welcome any other candidate vying for that position.

"As said before, this is a democratic process and we encourage leaders to take this opportunity to seek endorsement from all members,” Zuraida said yesterday.

Although she does not explicitly pledge allegiance to any faction, Rodziah's position on the Selangor executive council places her as an ally of the menteri besar.

Azmin's grassroots strong

While nominations begin tomorrow, Azmin has yet to announce whether he will defend his post.

The Gombak MP is also Selangor PKR chief, while Zuraida is the deputy Selangor chief.

As a loyalist of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, Azmin ( on the right ) - who was Anwar's aide when he was deputy prime minister - commands significant grassroots support.

Meanwhile, Zuraida has received pledges of support from the party's Wanita heads from Perlis, Perak, Penang, Kelantan and Malacca, as well as the wing's central vice-chief and information chief.

As for the PKR Youth wing, three have announced they will vie for the top post following the exit of incumbent, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, due to his age.

One of the three, Selangor PKR secretary Amiruddin Shari, is seen to be aligned with Azmin while another eyeing the post, Negri Sembilan PKR Youth chief Nazree Yunus, was present when Khalid announced his candidacy for deputy president.

Also in the running for PKR Youth chief is Selangor deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.