The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has brushed off MIC's allegations that there were irregularities in its investigations into the political party's leadership elections.

 

In a statement today, registrar Mohammad Razin Abdullah said ROS is willing to meet G Kumar Aaman ( left in photo below ), but not in his capacity as the newly-appointed MIC secretary-general.

"Given the tussle for the MIC central working committee posts has yet to be resolved as per the requirements, the ROS cannot recognise him as the new secretary-general.

 

“MIC has yet to inform us about the appointment. However, we have no problem meeting him, but not in his capacity as secretary-general.

 

"He has been asked to send in a letter from the party president to fix a meeting date. Even on the day of his hunger strike, we have yet to receive the letter," Razin said.

Kumar began his hunger strike outside the ROS headquarters yesterday after the registrar refused to meet him in his capacity as secretary-general.

 

He was appointed secretary-general by MIC president G Palanivel, replacing Prakash Rao, amid a power struggle between factions for and against the party president.

 

The tussle started in December last year, with ROS ordering MIC to hold a re-election after investigations showed irregularities in the 2013 party election.

 

The re-election is for the central working committee members and the three vice-president posts but the posts of president and deputy president were spared as these were won uncontested.

 

Protracted power struggle

 

Palanivel's opponents later demanded the re-election to include the top two positions as well, in what is seen to be a manoeuvre to dislodge his presidency in a fresh election.

 

This prompted Palanivel ( below ) to remove leaders perceived to be against him, including replacing incumbent secretary-general Prakash with Kumar.

 

The secretary-general is appointed by the party president from among the central working committee members.

 

However, as there has yet to be a re-election, the ROS is refusing to recognise the central working committee and therefore, any new appointment from among them is also not affirmed.

 

Palanivel's opponents have rallied around MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam as communication between the two factions appears to have broken down.

 

Subramaniam has lamented that the party is being kept in the dark about Palanivel's dealings with the ROS over the order to hold a re-election.

 

MIC faces de-registration if it does not hold a re-election within 90 days from Dec 30, 2014.

 

Palanivel, in a statement today, accused those raising the spectre of deregistration as fearmongers.

 

He said he was pursuing all legal means to resolve the issue and would not allow the party to be de-registered.