JOHOR BARU: MIC is tipped to contest in two new seats in the upcoming state polls.

       Talk is rife that it will be contesting in Kemelah and Bukit Batu.

       Two other traditional seats to be defended by the party include Kahang and Tenggaroh, currently held by incumbents R. Vidyananthan and K. Raven Kumar.

       It is learnt that MIC is expected to give up two seats it contested in at the 14th General Election, namely Gambir to Umno, and Skudai to MCA. Earlier, it was offered Paloh and Tangkak, which it subsequently rejected.

       The two new candidates tipped for the seats include Johor Wanita MIC chief N. Saraswathy Nallathanby and Kulai MIC division chief S. Suppiah.

       Separately, a local MIC leader said in Bukit Batu alone, the number of new voters had increased by 48% from 31,058 in GE14 to its current 46,274.

       “In this coming polls, we have to work hard to get every vote, especially in a crowded race,” he said.