One of the biggest battles in MIC's 60-year history kicked off today after nominations closed at noon.

President S Samy Vellu warned 'outsiders' not to stick their noses into MIC affairs while his estranged deputy S Subramaniam threatened legal action to protect his reputation, which he said is under attack by his opponent.

Candidates began to openly campaigning immediately after filing their nominations. Rival factions strung up banners, posters and placards all around the MIC building in Kuala Lumpur and along roads leading to the nomination centre.

The June 24 election promises to be a hotly contested affair.

"My opponents are tarnishing my name saying if I win the deputy president's contest, I will bring IPF (Indian Progressive Front) into MIC and they would take over the leadership. They say I am warming my seat, that I stabbed people in the back and that I am useless," said Subramaniam.

"I will go all out to the grassroots to fight this campaign. (And) I will not hesitate to take legal action," he added after filing his nomination papers at exactly 11.01am.

Earlier, Subramaniam prayed at the Pudu Pillayar Temple and was told that 11.01 was an auspicious time. He also drew 'number 1' in the balloting which his supporters said was also auspicious.

But the majority of the 2,000 MIC members who thronged the head office today are clearly with challenger G Palanivel who filed his papers at 10am to shouts of 'Long Live Palanivel'.

Earlier, he had prayed at the Sri Ayyanareeswarar temple in Jalan Genting Klang where he has been visiting for over 28 years, before heading to the nomination centre.

"My work is my campaign. We are not running down anybody. I have been hard at work for many years. I am not campaigning today to ask for a free vote. I ask delegates to decide on the basis of my work and the party's achievement," he told reporters who mobbed him after the nomination.

"See you on June 24," he said.

'Smell of blood in the air'

As a supporter of Palanivel and because he is leading an 'official' line-up of candidates, Samy Vellu for once took a backseat.

But at a press conference later, the president blew his top describing IPF leader MG Pandithan, who earlier this week urged Samy Vellu to resign, as a " longkang (drain) politician".

"I have heard his garbage for 27 years - he is useless," Samy Vellu said when asked for his reactions to Pandithan's statement. "IPF has falled into the drain ... Pandithan tak boleh pakai (cannot be used)."

The president said he has taken six days off to take his 'official' candidates on a tour of the country to meet delegates.

"I will open my campaign salvo soon," he said. "We will see then what happens."

The number of candidates vying for the post came as a surprise to many MIC leaders and members.

A total of 63 candidates are vying for 27 posts at different levels turning the contest into a gala affair. It took almost an hour for the contestants to pick their ballot numbers.

"The candidates sense this is the time for change and feel many incumbents might fall. They smell blood in the air," said a veteran MIC leader.

A 64th candidate caused a small commotion outside the MIC headquarters when he filed his papers to contest a seat in the Central Working Committee (CWC).

V Govindaraj, who was sacked as an appointed CWC member last week, gave a short lecture on human rights and democracy in the party after handing in his nomination form.

However, his papers were rejected because he is not one of the 1,387 registered delegates in the voters list.

Govindaraj said he would take "all measures" necessary to ensure that his rights as a MIC member was protected. He did not exclude legal action.

The deputy president's post is a straight fight between incumbent Subramaniam, 64, who has been deputy for 25 years and challenger Palanivel, 54, who became vice-president in 1994.

It is a free-for-all for the CWC seats with 52 aspirants contesting for the 23 available posts.

"It is a circus," said a former CWC member. "They just sit in the CWC meetings and listen to Samy Vellu tell stories... the only time they open their mouths is when they reach for the vadai (a popular Indian snack)."