by Deepa BHOOKHUN

I just love the way politicians think big of themselves. All you can hear these days especially from those who are not running for elections is the pompous phrase ?I have given directives for people to vote for Tom, Dick or Harry.? Who cares about the ?mot d?ordre? of politicians ? Everyone, they seem to think.

Cehl Meeah thinks his directives to his ?supporters? in constituency number 19 should give the Social Alliance some 2 000 to 3 000 votes. How preposterous! So he thinks there are 2 000 plus stupid people living in Rose-Hill who cannot think for themselves ? Oh well, it is a free country after all; Mr Meeah is entitled to his beliefs. Worse still Rama Valayden, the one who was going to benefit from Meeah?s generosity says he?s not too keen. So now offended Mr Meeah is thinking of taking back his directives. Dear God ! Ego, ego?

Raj Dayal is another politician who thinks big of himself; he has the solutions to all the ills of the country. He can sort out the tsunami warning system, he can get rid of all the crimes, he can do it all.

Then of course, we have Mr Krit Manohar who thinks he is the guardian of a particular religion and adheres to the belief that as such, he is untouchable. Wrong, wrong, wrong ! Those wanna-be saviours of our land need to understand one thing; gone is the time where the downtrodden cannot think for themselves anymore and need somebody with a powerful ego to represent them? on the surface that is? all the person will do is represent his own interests. Mauritius doesn?t need a ?saviour? anymore; she needs people of good faith. And the people do not need directives, least of all from politicians. They vote for who they want; this is their privilege, this is their prerogative.

Bless Anirood Gajudhur cruising the island everyday in his van, passing his message on. At least the man is not lost on some silly power trip. God only knows what his motives are but at least he doesn?t pretend to be some kind of superman waiting for his hour of glory. And he kindly respects people?s choice of not voting for him; he?s just sad about it.

Even members of important political parties speak of themselves in the regal plural nowadays. They can save us all from doom, they are the ones the country has been awaiting since time immemorial. God save us from their egos rather!

Who am I talking about ? God, the list is way too long. Suffice it to say that if the hat fits the ego, then they should wear it!