by Nicholas RAINER

The opposition is in tatters. In fact, it resembles a game of musical chairs gone awry or a farmyard full of headless chicken. Sadly, a parliamentary season that started out so promisingly has come to naught because of petty party politics and inane infighting. As if government?s grip on power wasn?t unfettered enough. It can now look forward to months of plain sailing in parliament.

It?s a bit like having Lance Armstrong compete in the Tour de France alone in that it doesn?t make for great watching. Admittedly, Tuesday?s quibbles, and, in particular, the direction that Ashock Jugnauth?s political future would take, were rather entertaining. Yet they were bemusing rather than relevant ? faintly absorbing yet frustratingly devoid of substance ? and certainly not befitting a country that likens itself to a ?mature democracy?.

The real tragedy is that none of this will contribute to enlarging the democratic space or enriching the content of the political debate. The real issues, such as electoral reform, always seem to be surreptitiously placed on the backburner. Tuesday?s twists and turns will only serve to further relegate the country?s most pressing problems to the nether regions of public consciousness.

Fittingly, one of the main protagonists of this vaudeville, MSM leader Pravind Jugnauth, isn?t even an elected member of Parliament. And, however much this fact may irk him, the power grabbing manoeuvres of which he was a prime instigator show the less flattering side of the democratic process.

He is fully entitled to ostracize anyone whom he feels poses a threat to his leadership of the party and, by extension, his chances of becoming Prime minister in 2010. All is fair in love and war. It is rather less acceptable when these internecine struggles lead to a lapse, however momentary, in the fulfillment of the duties of leader of the opposition.

The latter must, for example, ?level criticism against the policy and administration of government and outline the alternative policies?. The opposition owes it to the country to present a united front that can adequately accomplish what is expected of it. Especially when the executive has such a stranglehold on the country?s institutions.

If you think that the situation will have petered out by next week then think again. All that is needed to send us all right back to square one is a couple of defections. Of MSM parliamentarians, that is. And whether the leader of the MMM, Paul Bérenger, would be prepared to reaccept the post of leader of the opposition remains to be seen.

Tuesday?s episode had the government, give or take a minister or two, rolling in the aisles with laughter. One could argue that it?s as good a way as any of catching government off its guard. But honestly, it?s probably not the best way.