The MIC leadership crisis took a new twist today after BN-affiliated Indian parties threw their support behind G Palanivel as the true MIC president.

"I don't recognise his (Dr S Subramaniam's) leadership," myPPP president M Kayveas said at a press conference in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur today.

His statement was greeted with loud cheers by supporters present.

Besides Kayveas, Indian Progressive Party (IPF) president M Sambanthan, Makkal Sakti president RS Thanenthiran, and Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Kenneth Eswaran were among those who said their organisations supported Palanivel.

They had earlier attended a unity Ponggal event organised by Palanivel.

Kayveas said the reason they are banding behind Palanivel was because the MIC under Subramaniam's leadership had shut out other Indian parties causing further divisions in the community.

Eswaran echoed this, further alleging that Subramaniam was practicing caste politics.

Kayveas also said that Subramaniam's presidency was illegal.

"To sack a president and then claim you are the new president is illegal and can't be recognised.

"Nobody should support this, BN should not support this," the myPPP president said.

Thanetiran said without Palanivel and the 1,800 MIC branches that support him, BN could lose in the next general election.

In an immediate response, Wanita MIC chief Mohana Muniandy condemned Kayveas and the others for backing Palanivel.

"Seems that they are losing their heads in fear of MIC and its strength," Mohana said in a statement.

Yesterday MIC information chief VS Mogan urged all party members to lodge police reports against Palanivel for "causing confusion" by insisting he is still MIC president.

MIC fell into disarray following differences in opinion between Palanivel and Subramaniam after the Registrar of Societies (ROS) issued a notice on Dec 5, 2014 requesting the party to hold re-elections.

Palanivel was sacked from the party last year after filing a judicial review on the ROS directive.

The party constitution bars members from bringing party matters to court without the consent of the central working committee.

Subramaniam was subsequently elected as president after fresh party elections were held.

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