Palanivel's group welcomes offer to rejoin MIC

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri G. Palanivel's faction welcomes the offer by MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam to take back all members aligned with the former president into the party.
"We welcome it. We are a big force, nearly half of the once united party. We will consider the offer positively if the grounds are reasonable," said former party vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan.
He said they were very much a part of the MIC and cannot be ignored especially with a general election around the corner.
"If we are accepted on fair and reasonable terms we are most willing," he added.
He said Palanivel was overseas but has been briefed on the negotiations.
Subramaniam, who had chaired a CWC meeting on Saturday, announced that MIC has formed a five-man committee headed by deputy president Datuk S. K. Devamany to negotiate with the opposing side.
He said if the negotiation was successful a date could be fixed for nominations and admitting everybody into the divided party again.
"I hope they do not pile up too many conditions," he had said.
He also held off distributing national and state posts to the winners, saying the priority now was to unite the divided party, face the general election and do good for the community.
He also appointed defeated leaders Datuk M. Saravanan and Datuk V. S. Mohan to the CWC.
Sothinathan is expected to lead the negotiations which are expected to start in a week or two.
Former CWC member K. P. Samy said for the negotiation to be successful all branches supporting Palanivel, who are currently outside the party, must be taken in.
"The grassroots' fate is more important than leaders because they are the key to victory in the general election," he said, adding currently MIC has too many leaders but few soldiers.