Although last week was definitely quieter than the previous ones on the political stage, the situation is not back to normal yet. Tension is palpable and the recent resignations from the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) continue to stir political circles. Each side is trying to give a hard time to the other through press conferences or rallies.

Anil Bachoo, who resigned from the government and from his party is adamant about the reasons he left. He held a press conference last Friday together with the other ?outgoing?members: Mukhesswur Choonee, Megduth Chumroo, Jyaneshwur Jhurry, Ramnarain Guttee and some fifty supporters.

He pointed out that he had waited as long as he could before leaving the government. He wanted to ?give a chance to Paul Bérenger?. However, as he saw ?things getting even worse?, he decided to leave ? 8 months from the general elections, due next September.

The problem within the ruling alliance, according to Anil Bachoo, is that the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) makes all the decisions and that the MSM leader, Pravind Jugnauth, is totally disempowered. Young Jugnauth, as Bachoo calls him, is ?scared of offending Bérenger if he dares to say something?.

Buoyant politician

Anil Bachoo attacked his former leader, Pravind Jugnauth, saying that he doesn?t want to take any risk just because he wants to make sure he becomes prime minister in 2008, should the ruling alliance be voted back into power. Hence, he ?has forgotten his party members and ? most importantly ? his electorate?.

As he could not accept that the MSM becomes a dormant partner , the ex-minister has left the government to set up his own party. However ? disappointingly enough! ? Anil Bachoo did not give any details about this new party. No list of members, not even the name? Only the fifty people that were with him at the press conference are a sign that he has supporters? It looked like a warning to his former partners, who are now his political opponents.

Furthermore, Dinesh Ramjuttun, former government adviser at the UN mission in New York, who had claimed he was behind the resignations and upheaval in the MSM, seems to have spoken too fast and too much. Anil Baichoo has clearly stated that he is not welcome in his new party. But this buoyant politician does not seem to take no for an answer. He held a solo meeting in Quatre-Bornes and called on the people to vote for Ramgoolam.

Shower with praise

Pravind Jugnauth, obviously overwhelmed by his pre-budget meetings during the week, does not seem to have been very concerned about all this. He has so far remained very quiet about the political situation.

On the other hand, PM Bérenger did not spare Bachoo and his acolytes ? including the Labour party and Navin Ramgoolam especially ? at his press conference last Saturday. He spoke of a ?pac pac alliance that gathers Ramgoolam, Ramjuttun, Bachoo, Dulloo, Choonee, the PMXD, Valayden, Eliezer François (?).? He went even further when he took it out on the former minister of Public Infrastructure. The PM showered the new minister with praise and added that the good work done by Ajay Gunesh highlights the ?time lost in files such as road congestion when Bachoo was at the head of this ministry.?

Paul Bérenger seized the opportunity to call for a political truce until after the Indian PM?s visit next month before starting the electoral campaign. Otherwise, it would not be ?fair and friendly? to Manmohan Singh.