Seremban Jaya: Will it be another shocker for DAP like Perling?
(R.Mutharasan)
SEREMBAN: As political momentum builds ahead of the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state assembly elections, attention has turned to the Seremban Jaya constituency, where observers are questioning whether the results will replicate the major political upset recently witnessed in Perling, Johor.
During the recent Johor state assembly election, MIC candidate Pannir Selvam achieved a surprising victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) in Perling. The constituency, long considered a DAP stronghold, saw DAP candidate defeated in a significant electoral shift. Perling, which falls under the Pulai parliamentary constituency, was allocated to MIC in place of the Tenggaroh seat. Analysts attribute Pannir Selvam’s victory largely to a split vote caused by the Bersama party, led by Rafizi Ramli. Following his win, Pannir Selvam was appointed as a member of the Johor State Executive Council.
Read more:
Johor Polls: Some buck-up lessons for the political parties & the PM!Â
Attention now shifts to the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state elections, where political analysts are watching to see if MIC candidate Thinalan Rajagopalu can deliver a similar upset in Seremban Jaya.
Historically, MIC was allocated two state assembly seats in Negeri Sembilan, routinely contesting in Jeram Padang and Sri Tanjong. However, during the 2023 state assembly elections, MIC opted not to field candidates after Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan formed an electoral pact across six states, limiting MIC to a single seat allocation (Jeram Padang) in Negeri Sembilan. Consequently, MIC boycotted the 2023 polls across all six participating states.
For the current election cycle, MIC has been allocated two seats in Negeri Sembilan. While UMNO is fielding a candidate in Jeram Padang and Achuthan Alagan is contesting for MIC in Sri Tanjong, MIC is making its debut in Seremban Jaya.
Seremban Jaya has traditionally been a formidable DAP stronghold. In the 2023 elections, DAP candidate P. Gunasekaran secured a decisive victory against his Perikatan Nasional (Gerakan) opponent with a majority of 12,703 votes. Gunasekaran had held the seat continuously across four terms starting from 2008. However, he has stepped aside in the current contest to pave the way for a new candidate.
Muguntan Subramaniam has been replaced by Gunasegaran to contest in Seremban Jaya under the DAP ticket.
In the current contest, MIC faces a three-way battle in Seremban Jaya. Thinalan Rajagopalu is running on the MIC-Barisan Nasional ticket against Mahendran Ramasamy of the Urimai party (contesting under Bersatu) and Mugunthan Subramaniam representing DAP.
The Seremban Jaya constituency, which comprises 33,015 registered voters, is one of the 5 state assembly constituencies under the Rasah parliamentary seat. Demographic data shows a voter base consisting of 45.5% Chinese, 27.9% Indian, 25.1% Malay, and 0.8% from other ethnic backgrounds.
Without a Malay candidate in the race, political observers anticipate that a significant portion of the Malay vote could shift toward Barisan Nasional. This shift may be further bolstered by a strategic electoral pact between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, which could direct Malay votes from PAS and Wawasan party supporters toward the BN candidate. Whether the yet-to-be-registered Urimai Party’s candidate will be able to secure Malay votes on behalf of Bersatu is yet to be seen.
Thinalan Rajagopalu, a lawyer and member of MIC’s Central Working Committee, brings long-standing political involvement in Negeri Sembilan. Party insiders describe him as an approachable, soft-spoken, and well-regarded figure. Furthermore, his father, the late Rajagopalu, was a former state assemblyman and executive council member in Negeri Sembilan, a legacy seen as an added advantage for Thinalan’s campaign.
Given these shifting dynamics, some analysts predict that Seremban Jaya could potentially mirror the outcome in Perling, delivering a landmark victory for MIC in a traditionally opposition-held seat.
