With the MIC elections just around the corner, a battle between the various factions is raging on the pages of Tamil dailies.

Makkal Osai - which is aligned to deputy president S Subramaniam - today suggested that his challenger G Palanivel could be involved in money politics.

The daily claimed that Palanivel - who is party president S Samy Vellu's preferred choice - was providing 'monetary incentives' when meeting delegates.

However, it was not specified if these incentives were in cash or otherwise.

Makkal Osai also quoted a MIC Central Working Committee candidate as saying that money politics was against the party's rules.

While Palanivel's comments were not included in the report, malaysiakini was unable to contact him this evening.

Show us the accounts

Meanwhile, Malaysia Nanban - another daily said to be aligned to Subramaniam - featured party veteran V Govindaraj attacking Samy Vellu on its front-page.

Among others, he criticised the president for turning MIC into a 'one-man show' and burying democratic practices.

Govindaraj, who was dropped from the Central Working Committee by the president, appeared to have an axe to grind.

According to him, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad contributed RM50 million to MIC for the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) and Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (Aimst).

While claiming to have proof of this, the veteran leader urged the president to publicly disclose details of the money.

"I have evidence that MIC received the fund completely. So, Samy Vellu should come forward to announce the accounts," he said.

Govindaraj claimed that the government under Mahathir had allocated RM20 million for MIED study loans in 2002 and RM30 million for Aimst.

The veteran leader also touched on the 'Nehi' controversy and accused Samy Vellu of 'lying' when he denied saying that Mahathir had not done anything for the Indian community under the Eighth Malaysia Plan.

Swallowing votes

In a related development, Tamil Nesan - which is aligned to the president - published a lengthy commentary criticising Govindaraj.

The writer criticised Govindaraj for claiming that he had helped Samy Vellu win against Subramaniam for the deputy president post in 1977.

Govindraj - who was Samy Vellu's election representative during that election - claimed that he had ensured victory by "swallowing" 26 votes during the counting process.

"How did he swallow? The whole lot at one go or one by one? Even a donkey would take more than 30 minutes to swallow so many votes," mocked the writer.

The writer argued that it was impossible for anybody to 'swallow' votes because Subramaniam's representatives were also present at the counting process.

This year's MIC election, touted as a turning point for the party, is scheduled for June 24.