The 2,758 MIC branch chairmen who met today, agreed that Datuk Seri G. Palanivel was no longer a party member after breaching Article 91 of the party's constitution.

This was among two resolutions passed today during the special gathering with MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam at Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here.

The first resolution reads: "We hereby resolve that Article 91 of the MIC constitution clearly states inter alia, that no party matters can be taken to court without prior consent of the CWC (central working committee), failing which, such persons would cease to be members ipso facto immediately."

The second resolution reads: "We hereby resolve to adopt the directions of the RoS (Registrar of Societies) to conduct re-elections and uphold the finding by the court that Palanivel and four others commenced the suit in their individual capacity and not on behalf of the party."

The resolutions were read out by Dr Subramaniam. Also present were MIC former president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan, member of the RoS-recognised interim 2009-2013 CWC Datuk Seri S.K. Devamany, CWC member P. Kamalanathan, the party's Youth chief C Sivarraajh and wanita MIC chief Mohana Muniandy.

Asked on the response of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to party president Palanivel's statement yesterday, Dr Subramaniam said Najib as the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman had the right to advise for the betterment of the component party.

The prime minister today ticked off Palanivel for twisting the facts and dragging others into the party's crisis.

Najib, in his tweet today said that he would summon Palanivel, who is also Natural Resources and Environment Minister, to ask him to explain on the latter's statement made during the MIC special gathering with the branch chairmen at PWTC yesterday.

On the issue of fresh elections, Dr Subramaniam said the proposal by Palanivel had no legal basis when it should only be done in 2016, when the term of the current CWC expires.