There are two aspects in Ashok Jugnauth?s resignation. First, it has, of course, an undeniable incidence over Mauritian political life. The opposition, which has been involved in a noisy squabble for the past few months, may have difficulties to do its main duty as the government?s watchdog ? in such circumstances. All the parties have to find their bearings in the new layout before being able to do their job.

The other side of the walk-out of the MSM former MP is much more personal? or at least should be. As uncle of Pravind Jugnauth, he is said to have betrayed not only the MSM electorate but also his own family. Ashock Jugnauth, who has always followed his brother Anerood now president in Le Réduit, suddenly decides to quit the party led by nephew Pravind.

So here we are, the Mauritian electorate, caught in the middle of a family crisis. No doubt all Mauritians have wondered what was happening into the Jugnauth family after Ashock decided to publicly state his discontent against his nephew and party leader. This is one of the most important faults of Mauritians. We all love gossip and must admit we show much interest in our country leaders? private lives.

However, they should never give us the feeling that we are right in doing so? But that?s exactly what some of them did. ?Our family is hurt and disappointed by Ashock?s attitude. This is real betrayal and I don?t think we will be able to forgive him one day,? Lady Sarojini revealed to l?express.

We perfectly understand her reaction. As Pravind?s mother, we could not have expected her to have other feelings in such a situation. We perfectly understand how disappointed she must have been when she heard that her brother-in-law was publicly criticising her son. This is a normal mother?s reaction.

However, Lady Sarojini is not supposed to be involved in politics anymore. As the president?s wife, she should not interfere in the party?s internal conflicts. Her husband may be bursting with impatience to state his feelings on the situation. Having been at the head of the MSM for 20 years, he must be horrified to see how the party is plunged in such a quagmire? But he has not said a single word over the affair so far. And that speaks well for him.

We would never have expected Lady Sarojini to say that Ashock Jugnauth actually showed courage to leave the MSM as he knew he was taking the risk of upsetting his relatives. But we would not have thought that she would wash her dirty linen in public. She has already been criticised for campaigning for her son?s party during the electoral campaign when she realised the MSM was in a difficult situation. She is taking exactly the same risk today.

Even if Lady Sarojini took the precaution to say that she was giving her opinion only as a member of the family, the fact remains that she is not just a member of the Jugnauth clan. She is also the president?s wife and that requires her to play a lower profile, as far as politics are concerned, than she actually does. But let?s say Lady Sarojini was speaking only as a member of the family; should all Mauritians be informed of the state of the relationships between her family members? I do not think so.

As I said before, Ashock Jugnauth?s resignation is not only a family problem but also ? and above all ? a political one. When Pravind Jugnauth challenges his resigning uncle to knock at his parents? door in La Caverne, he is going beyond the boundaries of politics and getting us all involved in his own family squabbles. Using his personal conflicts to obtain the favour and climb the poll of public opinion should not be part of the game.