Deepa BHOOKHUN

If there is one thing on which all politicians agree and which unites them, it is that politics is the art of the possible. In case you haven?t yet grasped the extent of this new-age adage, please focus on Maurice Allet of the Parti mauricien social-démocrate (PMSD) famed for a minute. Not on his smile ? because it will distract you from focusing ? but on what he says.

Maurice Allet is most probably a very nice man. But all he has to say for himself and his political party?s electoral weightage is ?we have a great past.? We are obviously very happy that the PMSD has had a very fruitful past. As a matter of fact, we know it did. But, Sir Gaëtan Duval, on whom Allet is relying for political survival, is no more and a political party cannot hope to continue to exist on the political scene if all it has to say for itself is that one of its former members was a great man, regardless of the veracity of that affirmation.

Oh, what am I talking about! No, I do not think Mr Allet is totally useless, as I may have led you to believe. No, in actual fact, Mr Allet plays a most important role on the political scene in Mauritius. National unity depends on him. It seems that there?s a specific group of Mauritians who don?t feel adequately represented by the Government and the only way to solve this purported problem will be Mr Allet and Mr Guimbeau?s adherence to the ruling block.

Mind you, it is not I saying so. As a matter of fact, I think it is all a load of bull and that Mr Allet simply needs to justify himself in the eyes of the people so they don?t call him an opportunist. No, this ridiculous explanation comes from Mr Allet, himself. Simple delusion, or just an excuse? Only the Almighty and Mr Allet have the answer.

But mind you. Mr Allet is not alone in over-rating his importance. Reports say that leaders of the Alliance Sociale (AS) are keen for Allet to join. The only uncertainty resides in whether the PMSD will join as a separate entity or whether it will merge into Xavier?s party. While they decide what to do with themselves ? and they need to act fast as the stakes are high ? I mean we are talking about National Unity here, one question puzzles me.

Why is the AS leader that bothered about including Allet?s PMSD in his block? Unless he buys the National Unity story, I don?t quite get it. I mean Ramgoolam won the general elections and the municipal elections without Maurice Allet?s consequential support, so what else is there to gain from such an association? Rumours say that Ramgoolam is in fact keen to count two more votes at the National Assembly so he can be nearer to getting the much sought after three quarter majority. Theory, which begs the following question: what does government want to do that they can?t count on the support of the parliamentary opposition?

Persistent rumours further say that Government might still be keen to remove Sir Anerood Jugnauth from his office of President. If that rumour is founded, may we remind the people at Government House that they were not mandated to remove SAJ from Réduit?

But I think they know that. So what can it be? Questions, questions!

Ah that priceless art of the possible!