It was very nice to see MMM stalwarts back on the streets at least on one issue - the educational reform (or gokulgunya). This was followed by the rather unusual general assembly of the party to rally the troops for Mayday at Edward VII, Rose-Hill, and the announcement of regional meetings island wide where Paul Bérenger would himself be present. One can already smell the first smoke emission of the formidable engine that used to be the MMM but that has been kept on the back-burner since 1987 for realpolitik purposes.

At times, they were in L?UNION (with Baichoo), at others with the MSM, thereafter with Labour, followed by l?Alliance nationale (with Dulloo) and back with the MSM through the Federation. This 19-year roller coaster has left the MMM exhausted, if not depleted, with erosion not only within elected ranks but also in the electoral vote bank. The biggest landslide in the vote bank being registered in Port-Louis and the latest defection, being Eric Guimbeau. Many of the advisers or top administrators of Navin Ramgoolam?s government are pure products of the MMM, who, at one time or another, were the most ardent, vociferous and relentless front liners of the party.

The MMM is known to have provided the country with the best administrators of all times, apart from Kher Jagatsing and Gaetan Duval. Nobody can afford to be indifferent to the MMM and to its charismatic leader, whether in government or in opposition. People have been so used to the aggressiveness that characterises Bérenger, that they seem not to recognise him after the 2005 elections nearly accusing him of not assuming his role of leader of the opposition. As if he has been born for that role only and nothing else!

Had he been born a Hindu, he would have probably been the longest serving prime minister of the country. But the reality is that he is not. So he has only been producing Hindu prime ministers, successfully most of the time - only to be thrown down like the ladder once the purpose was served. Most of them saw the ladder - the only one seeing the snakes being Pravind Jugnauth. He wants to get rid of both.

<B>Second fiddle</B>

But for how longer will Bérenger and the MMM continue to play second fiddle? The MMM electorate is not confined to the minority communities only. It has a considerable anchorage in the majority community also, as proved in many election results.

Who says the majority community hates Bérenger? They love to see him everywhere, they respect and revere him as number two. But they would love not to see him as prime minister. Berenger is 61 years old today, he has given more than half of his life for the MMM and the country. He could easily have been the CEO of a big conglomerate. But no, he was destined to be PM and PM he became, thereby creating history, not only in Mauritius but also in the world. Had the Hindus really hated him there would have been uproar and even riots in the country, but nothing of that sort did occur.

Now that the curtain is falling on the stage, Bérenger has to re-invent the MMM. He has to do what Maurice Curé did for the Labour Party. Groom a few, if not one within his party, (preferably a Hindi-speaking Hindu) to take the lead, under his guidance. The party has to survive the man, however big and great the man and his deeds are. This has happened to all great leaders and great parties.

The unfortunate experience of the previous weeks with the MSM might have provided Bérenger and the MMM, with this excellent opportunity. An opportunity to create a stronger, more vigorous party, closer to the people and their aspirations. Otherwise, once again, the MMM will be forced into an alliance, which will have them swallow grass snakes, pythons, cobras, boas and what not.

The 2000 alliance with the MSM, followed by that of 2005, both for the general and the municipal elections should serve as a good eye-opener for the MMM. For the first time, non-MMM candidates got elected in MMM strongholds. In 2005, the MSM returned 10 out of its 12 MPs from urban areas. Who could have thought that the MMM would have no representative in constituency No 4 and No 17? Who could have thought that the MSM would have won two seats in each of these constituencies? Who could have thought that No14 and No 20 would each have only one elected MMM MP? No15 failed to return ex-minister Obeegadoo. Messrs Grivon, Saccaram, Perrier and Nagalingum could have got through but they were beaten on photo finishes. The generosity of the MMM has been easily forgotten by those who benefited most, reducing it to a minority party in the National assembly. Again, it takes a Bérenger to refuse the seat of leader of the opposition (1993 - Navin Ramgoolam being the beneficiary). Will anybody in the present parliamentary opposition have the courage to do the same for Bérenger? Will he accept, is another question - the man of principle that he is!

These are the pitfalls that the MMM leader and his close advisers have to address, when contracting the next alliance, be it with Labour or MSM. The wish of the MMM electorate should not be subdued to the whims of those at the helm, if not, the routing of the municipal elections can repeat itself. Positioning of candidates, sharing of responsibilities and team selection and the future role of Bérenger are issues that have to be resolved before the MMM even considers entertaining requests for any electoral alliance in the future.

<B>OBSERVER</B>