MIC is not overly ambitious about fielding candidates to contest in the 15th general election (GE15), the party’s deputy president, M. Saravanan, said today.

Instead, the oldest and largest Indian-based political party will evaluate the current situation before making any decision on the matter, he said.

Saravanan, who is also human resources minister, said MIC hopes to contest the Padang Serai (Kedah) and Teluk Intan (Perak) parliamentary seats, if given the chance to do so by the Barisan Nasional leadership.

In GE14, MIC won one out of nine parliamentary seats and three out of the 18 state seats it contested.

“Now, (with) Muafakat Nasional and Bersatu, we (MIC) may have to share (seats) with the other parties. So, we can’t be over-ambitious; we will wait and see.

“If there is no new consensus, maybe we will ask for more seats as there are vacant seats from Gerakan,” he said at the opening ceremony of Wisma Tun S. Samy Vellu in Kuala Lumpur today.

On June 23, 2018, Gerakan had unanimously decided to leave the BN coalition following the party’s dismal performance in GE14.

Saravanan, who is also Tapah MP, said MIC will continue to contest in its nine traditional seats and 18 state seats in the next general election. – Bernama, September 27, 2020.