PKR No 2 contest now a three-way race

(Malay Mail Online) – The race for the PKR deputy presidency will now be a three-way tussle, after Datuk K. Ramachandran dropped out of the contest.

PKR elections director Datuk Johari Abdul said Ramachandran informed the party’s polls committee through an official letter earlier today.

Ramachandran is the third candidate to withdraw from the race for the no. 2 post, after outgoing vice-president Chua Tian Chang and S. Murali pulled out earlier.

Incumbent deputy president Azmin Ali will now have to face off against arch rival Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and outgoing secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Saifuddin has formed an alliance with Chua, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Rafizi Ramli as well as Sim Tze Sin. The four are in the frame for the four VP spots.

Tensions between the three factions have begun, with Azmin likening Saifuddin’s group to a “cartel” and that such forms of factionalism would be stumbling block to the 15-year old party.

Saifuddin has also publicly criticised Azmin’s leadership, claiming that there was currently a disconnect between the party’s top leadership and grassroots members.