The DAP today announced the 37-year-old lawyer, who was widely tipped for the nod, as its choice for what is set to be a multi-cornered fight for the federal seat.
"This will be a clean fight, not only for Bukit Gelugor voters, but a fight for Penang," said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng when he made the announcement at the launch of the party's main operations room for the Bukit Gelugor by-election today.
He said Ramkarpal was chosen from a shortlist of five candidates submitted by Penang DAP.
Lim added that Ramkarpal is the most suitable candidate to contest in the seat.
Lim added that Ramkarpal is the most suitable candidate to contest in the seat.
"This is a battle that we must not only win, but must win convincingly, and just like what Karpal used to say, it's the fight that is more important than the outcome," Lim said in his speech.
The Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat fell vacant after Karpal, popularly dubbed the "Tiger of Jelutong", was killed in a road accident on April 17. He had held the seat since winning it in Election 2004.
The Election Commission has set nominations for May 12 while polling will be held on May 25.
Prior to 2004, the seat was traditionally held by MCA, but Karpal had gone on to win bigger victories with each successive election.
He had garnered a massive 42,706-vote majority in Election 2013, prompting political analysts to predict a landslide victory for the DAP in the coming poll.
In accepting his selection today, Ramkarpal thanked the party and the leadership for their confidence in him.
"I believe with hard work and commitment from all in (Pakatan Rakyat), we can achieve a bigger majority this by-election than last general elections," he said.
"I believe with hard work and commitment from all in (Pakatan Rakyat), we can achieve a bigger majority this by-election than last general elections," he said.
With just two days to go until nominations, MCA is yet to announce its chosen candidate or even confirm whether it is contesting in the by-election.
Today, Lim said he believed MCA will contest in the by-election but is delaying the announcement as a gimmick.
Several independent candidates have voiced their intention to contest in the by-election and could make it a six-corner fight.
Among them are Mohd Nabi Bux Mohd Abd Sathar; Mohamed Yacoob Mohamed Noor, who is more commonly known as "Yaacob Bebas"; and a candidate from newly formed Penang Front Party.
Parti Cinta Malaysia vice president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan will also contest.
There are a total of 82,431 voters in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency.
All three state seats within the constituency - Seri Delima, Air Itam and Paya Terubong — are held by DAP. The Malay Mail Online