IPOH: DAP stalwart M. Kulasegaran has dropped a bombshell on the party -- he will announce today his resignation as an Ipoh city councillor.

Sources told the New Straits Times that the member of parliament for Ipoh Barat was forced to take this drastic action as he felt that he could not serve effectively the people in his "lowly" position as councillor.

Observers said that Kulasegaran's decision was because of a power play in DAP.

It is another blow to the credibility of the Pakatan Rakyat state government, which is facing a "revolt" from certain Parti Keadilan Rakyat elected representatives, who defied a directive against holding elections for village chiefs.

The brewing political storm in Perak comes in the wake of the war of words between Kapar member of parliament S. Manikavasagam and Klang member of parliament Char-les Santiago with the Selangor assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim over the relocation of the Klang bus station to Meru.
A DAP assemblyman revealed that Kulasegaran might be taking a preemptive move against Local Government Committee chairman Nga Kor Ming's plan to appoint a lawyer as deputy mayor.

Kulasegaran, a three-term MP, was promised the post of deputy mayor shortly after the March 8 general election.

"How would you feel if you were in Kulasegaran's shoes?" asked the assemblyman.

The lawyer, in his early 50s, had previously worked with Nga.

When Pakatan Rakyat took over the state government after March 8, Kulasegaran was hotly tipped for the Ipoh mayor post.

Political considerations, however, forced a change of plan and Kulasegaran was promised the No. 2 post instead.

"The Indian community has high expectations of Kulasegaran and failing to secure the post has embarrassed him.

"I know for a fact that he did not take even a single sen from his councillor allowance as a matter of principle," said an associate.

The appointment of a deputy mayor was raised several times in the past, which saw Nga passing the buck to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

"It is up to him to decide," Nga was quoted as saying.

The decision to sideline Kulasegaran could stem from Nga's insecurity, said a source.

"Nga knows that Kulasegaran will do a good job as deputy mayor. He is afraid Kulasegaran will overshadow him in his (Nga) capacity as the exco in charge of local government."

Kulasegaran said he would call a press conference today.