NOW that Datuk Seri Najib Razak has secured the Umno president's post, attention will shift to the deputy presidency.

Najib obtained the 140th nomination on Sunday, exceeding the 134 required to close the door on anyone wanting to challenge him. He will succeed Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is not seeking re-election at the party polls in March.

Gua Musang member of parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, the other leader who had offered to contest the president's post, has garnered one nomination.

The race for the deputy president's post is intriguing, although many had expected Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to win unopposed before the divisional delegates' meetings started on Oct 9.

While the incumbent vice-president may remain the favourite, a two- or three-corner-ed fight is possible.
This may only be answered by the time all 191 Umno divisions complete their meetings this Sunday, except a few which have been directed to reconvene due to irregularities.

With 50 divisions yet to make their nominations, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ali Rustam is short of eight nominations to reach the eligibility mark, while party information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib needs 10 more.

While many feel that Muhyiddin is the more qualified candidate as he is a senior minister, there are also members who favour a contest, rather than allowing the international trade and industry minister to win unopposed.

A party division head said: "Having no contest for the deputy post would take the excitement out of the party elections and result in the elections being a subdued affair.

"Let all three candidates qualify. It has been 21 years since we had a contest for the No. 2 post. It's been a long wait."

In the vice-presidential race, six candidates have passed the minimum 20 nominations required: Da-tuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad.

Here, incumbent Youth chief Hishammuddin, who has been leading the pack from the start, is the favourite to occupy one of the three seats.

This weekend should also see Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis and Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim join the race as they need only two and four more nominations respectively.

Interestingly, grassroots members preferred candidates below 55 years for vice-presidents.

This explained why Hishammuddin, Zahid, Khaled and Shafie had qualified early.

As for the Wanita chief's post, incumbent Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and her deputy Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who have both qualified to contest the top post, said they would announce their decisions after the divisional elections end on Nov 9.

Under the leadership transition plan announced in August, Rafidah would hand over the post to Shah-rizat in June.

But events since then have led to some grassroots leaders preferring an earlier transfer of power.

For the record, 66 Wanita divisions have nominated Shahrizat for the chief's post compared with 102 for Rafidah.

In Puteri Umno, members are gearing for its first election for the head post as since its formation in 2001. (The past two elections were won uncontested by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Noraini Ahmad.)

Based on the nominations to date, a battle is likely between deputy head Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin and information chief Datuk Shahaniza Shamsuddin.

Trailing them are executive council member Datin Ismailina Ismail, secretary Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid, Penang Puteri head Azlina Mehtab Mohd Ishaq and Petaling Jaya Utara permanent chairman Ida Rahayu Mohamed Nor.

As for the Umno Youth head's post, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo overtook deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin in terms of nominations received.

The two are trailing Jerlun member of parliament Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.