A most hectic week for the Mouvement socialist militant (MSM) party leaders. Uncertainty more than everything else has characterised a week where, according to the Labour party leader, ?the country has been left to govern itself while members of the MSM have gone around convincing everybody and their wives not to quit.?

Between speculations and reality, we get lost somewhere. Is this the end of the MSM party that has lost four of its members, two of whom, Bachoo and Choonee were ministers and the other two, Jhurry and Chumroo, private parliamentary secretaries (PPS) as well as five other political nominees (advisers and chairpersons of parastatal bodies) Other resignations that were announced by former MSM members are still expected. But as the eager public is kept waiting, the climax is slowly turning into anti-climax.

Pravind Jugnauth admits to having been weakened by the defections but he rationalises. ?It is much better that those who were not true to the party have gone. At least now, we know on whom to count,? says the shaken leader. He has a good point. There has been much sympathy for Bachoo and his lot recently. Their account speaks of a party where the leader does not pay heed to his members? concerns about the direction the MSM was taking but was rather keener on playing the puppeteer in the hands of an ?arrogant and selfish? Paul Berenger.

But, as Pravind Jugnauth has highlighted, it is all very well for those who have gone to berate the MSM and its leadership now but, for months, they have been nicely playing happy families. We know that Bachoo had ? at least officially - been renewing his vows to his leader whenever he was asked of his intentions. Dr Jhurry did the same. He was seen the weekend before he resigned, with both leaders of the ruling alliance smiling (reminding us of Hamlet?s famous phrase ? ?to smile and smile and be a villain?) and being the team mate while wickedly planning their downfall after hours.

Choonee sat in Parliament on Tuesday morning ? he may have been deep in thought and his attitude may have suggested further troubles ahead but sitting on the benches of the majority implies being supportive. Chumroo, on the other hand, has been about the only one to openly admit his dissatisfaction with his leaders publicly.

So, when Pravind Jugnauth talks of treason, he may not be so far off. He has well and truly been betrayed. But, there again, is this not due to precisely what his former members are reproaching him? Of not listening? Of being out of touch? Can one talk of betrayal when the leader refuses to listen?

In any case, the scenario is about to repeat itself with attorney general Emmanel Leung Shing. Rumour had it that the minister was about to close the MSM chapter as well. He was reported to be so unhappy with his leaders that, on the occasion of the celebration of the Lunar New Year, he made his speech in?hakka. A language that none of the honourable guests understood. Reports say he also refused to acknowledge the presence of all other guests in his speech - apart from the President of the Republic. The same president to whom he swore allegiance a few days ago when questioned about rumours of his departure. ?I am loyal to Sir Anerood Jugnauth.?

It is no secret that Sir Anerood Jugnauth is no longer leader of the MSM and hasn?t been for a while. As Pravind Jugnauth put it rather brusquely: ?SAJ cannot be his (Leung Shing) leader because SAJ is the President of the Republic.? In the meantime, Leung Sing sits a few rows behind his leader (the one he refuses to acknowledge) and says nothing. Reports say that once the attorney general?s intentions were known, he was ?blackmailed.? As far-fetched as this sounds, it would explain Leung Shing?s attitude. Other members were convinced, some by duress, others through their wives. Or so they say.

If those reports are true, it shows that Pravind Jugnauth has not learnt from his mistakes and, in a desperate attempt to stop the ?haemorrhage?, is doing what he thinks is best. The strategy is obvious. Preventing other members from leaving now would prove Ramgoolam and Bachoo wrong. If they are wrong on this count, they must be wrong on all the others as well (that Pravind is a bad leader, that the MSM is a doormat for the MMM and that the party has lost touch with reality.)

<B>Fundamentalist and extremist</B>

In the meantime, relations between Anil Bachoo and his former leader are getting bitter. In an interview published in a Sunday paper, Pravind accuses Bachoo of being communal and of having protested against vice-president Raouf Bundhun heading a delegation to India for the GOPIO conference because he was of Muslim faith. Pravin Jugnauth says Bachoo used a degrading language towards Bundhun. Former minister soon-to-be leader of a new political party Bachoo reacts angrily. ?This conversation did not even take place but I do not wish to go down to Pravind?s level and tell lies.?

As a matter of fact, the MSM is now accusing Anil Bachoo of being a fundamentalist and an extremist. Bachoo replies that if ?loving my religion makes me an extremist, it shows what they know.?

In the meantime, Labour couldn?t be happier. They believe they have managed to weaken the MSM, they have Bachoo ? an added value ? on their side and all is well. The Law and Order situation, being what it is, is making the opposition?s job easier. And the prime minister has been strangely silent these last few days. No doubt having learnt his lesson after the unfortunate and regrettable ?intellectually limited? episode. But, true to himself, while partner Pravind is going through his storm, Bérenger is paying his little courtesy calls to ?the different sections of the population.? What Choonee in his letter called ?scientific communalism??

As a matter of fact, the MSM is now accusing Anil Bachoo of being a fundamentalist and an extremist. Bachoo replies that if ?loving my religion makes me an extremist, it shows what they know.?