JOHOR BARU: MIC hopes that it will be able to contest at least five state seats in the upcoming polls, says party vice president Datuk M. Asojan (pic).

       He said that the party has been contesting four seats since the 2004 General Elections, and hopes to be allocated one more for the upcoming state polls.

       Asojan added that party president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran would bring the matter up during seat negotiations with Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi soon.

       He also said that after the 14th General Elections in 2018, Gerakan - which had previously contested in Johor - had left Barisan Nasional

       Asojan then added that MIC had two assemblymen in Johor prior to the State Assembly's dissolution on Saturday (Jan 22); R.Vidyananthan (Kahang) and K. Raven Kumar (Tenggaroh).

       Asked about seat swapping in the polls, Asojan did not discount the possibility.

       "Our main aim is to win big in this election," he said, adding that the Indian community has benefitted under Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

       He added among them including appointing Raven Kumar as the MB's special officer to help the community and a bigger allocation to the Yayasan Sultanah Rogayah from RM3mil to RM5mil under Budget 2022.

       On their election strategy, Asojan said that Indian voters would be crucial in seats with multi-cornered fights.

       "In the Melaka state election, MIC played a crucial role in getting the Indian votes in at least 20 seats. In Johor we gave about 30 seats with 5% Indian voters," he added.

       In the 14th General Elections, Umno contested in 35 seats, MCA 15 seats, MIC four seats and Gerakan two seats.