Although they may be lobbying in private, they just don't want to be highlighted in the media.

"Please don't write anything on me now, not even a speculative story,"

said an aspirant who is said to be tipped to contest one of the newly- created seats in Selangor.

The reason for their apprehension: they are worried that if their names are mentioned, others may sabotage them.

"Others may write poison pen letters or even tell the president all sorts of things to deny me the seat. "I am more worried that stories about me may create doubt in the mind of the president (Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu) who might change his mind about offering me a seat. It has happened in past elections," he said.

He said it was best that fewer people knew the identity of those aspiring to contest.

He indicated that he would not mind "a big piece in the newspapers" once the list of candidates had been announced.

The candidates' and the aspirants' anxiety can be understood as there are only nine Parliament (two more than in 1999) and 19 state seats (an additional four) for the MIC this time around.

Meanwhile, several names are being bandied about for the new Parliamentary seat of Bukit Raja.

One is Federal Territory MIC chairman Datuk V.K.K. Teagarajan, 58.

Another is MIC Youth chief S. A. Vigneswaran who is tipped for either the seat or a state constituency in Johor.

It will also be interesting to see who will be contesting the party's other new Parliamentary constituency of Cameron Highlands.

Besides several local hopefuls, a dark horse may be Dr N. S. Rajendran, a lecturer at the University Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Tanjung Malim.

As far as state seats are concerned, S. Ganesan is considered a shoe- in for the Lunas seat which MIC's S. Anthonysamy lost to Keadilan's Saifuddin Nasution in the by-election after incumbent Dr Joe Fernandes was killed in 2000.

Several names are also being seen as possible candidates for the four new state seats. Central working committee (CWC) members P.K. Subbaiyah and Datuk S. Balakrishnan are being tipped to contest the Batu Kawan seat in Penang and one of the two seats in Johor respectively.

Besides Vigneswaran who may get one of the other two state seats, CWC member S.P Manivasagam is being seen as a possible candidate.

As far as women candidates are concerned, CWC member Vimala Nair could be a strong possibility after a good showing at the party polls.

The two existing women MIC representatives, Komala Krishnamoorthy (MP for Kapar) and Kamala Ganapathy (assemblywoman for Bukit Raja) look set to contest again.

Source: New Straits Times - March 06, 2004)