Likely to be dropped are Perai assemblyman P Ramasamy, who is deputy chief minister, as well as Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy and others believed to be aligned with Ramasamy.

The party insider said national chairman Lim Guan Eng is behind the moves against the Ramasamy camp, and wants to bring in “his people” because “the Lim family is worried they might lose control of the party”.

The party leadership has been dominated for decades by former secretary-general Lim Kit Siang, followed by his son Guan Eng, who is now DAP chairman.

FMT’s source, a former MP, said there were plans in place to replace those in the “Ramasamy camp” with allies of Guan Eng. One of those speculated as likely to be brought in is Sundarajoo Somu of the property company Eco World Development.

When contacted, Sundarajoo dismissed the speculation.

FMT has sought a response from Ramasamy, Guan Eng and Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

Ramasamy, 74, had expressed surprise earlier yesterday over a report in The Star that he would be dropped as a candidate for the coming election to the state assembly.

He said he could not understand where the daily got the information, as Penang DAP had yet to submit its list of potential candidates to the party’s central leadership.

A former professor of political science, Ramasamy has served three terms as an assemblyman since making his electoral debut in 2008, the year Barisan Nasional was ousted from power after 35 years.

State assembly elections are due to be held by Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan (currently controlled by Pakatan Harapan) and Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu (held by PAS).