MIC deputy president S Subramaniam is wondering if the ongoing attack launched against him by his boss is being orchestrated to dampen his chances at the upcoming party polls.

"Somebody might have the benefit of coming into my position through the backdoor," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

"I don't know who it is, because the (challenger) has not been announced. But I'm sure it's a clear attempt to seek a backdoor entry into my position," he said.

Although he did not mention names, it is believed that the statement was in referrence to current vice-president G Palanivel, who is expected to challenge the former in the June 24 elections.

Palanivel is the preferred choice of party president S Samy Vellu, who over the past two days, has been hurling a volley of accusations against Subramaniam.

Damning report

Samy Vellu's attacks, described as his harshest against his estranged deputy in nearly two decades, comes in the wake of a damning report in two Tamil dailies.

On Wednesday, Makkal Osai and Tamil Nanban quoted the MIC president as saying that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had not done anything for the Indian community.

A vexed Samy Vellu denied this and accused the dailies, which have since stood by their reports , of distorting his statements.

He also raised the possibility of Subramaniam having a hand in the controversy because the dailies are purportedly aligned to him. The latter has denied this.

Yesterday, Samy Vellu came out with all guns blazing, accusing his deputy of numerous misdeeds ranging from backstabbing to subversive activities.

He also challenged Subramaniam to a duel for the president's post, which he won uncontested in March. The duo had locked horns for the post in 1990, where Samy Vellu won with a narrow margin.

'Not fighting Samy'

At the press conference this afternoon, Subramaniam refuted the allegation that he was eyeing for presidency.

"I have already announced my decision to defend my post (a year ago). It is wrong to assume that this is a fight between Samy and me.

"(The contest) is between me or Palanivel or whoever that is contesting for the post," he stressed.

To a question, Subramaniam said that he had no problems with Samy's active campaigning for his preferred deputy, but said it would be better if Palanivel did his own homework.

"The president can say anything he wants, but since this is a democratic party, let the delegate decide who they want as their deputy president," he said, adding that delegates know what is going on.

He also dismissed another allegation that MIC could not progress if he continued to remain as deputy president.

"How can the deputy be more powerful than the president or the (party's) central working committee?" he asked.

Subramaniam stressed that he had never acted in a manner that is detrimental to the party and nobody should question his loyalty to MIC.