And so the sun is still shining. The political rally organised by the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) at the Octave Wiehé auditorium on Sunday was a success on many fronts. For the Sun Trust people, it was a matter of showing that the MSM is a force to be reckoned with. After several surveys that had told of the slow demise of the party created 22 years ago by Sir Anerood Jugnauth; after five members, of which two ministers, had slammed the door in the face of new leader Pravind Jugnauth and, last but not least, after the electorate of constituency n° 7 (SAJ?s people in many ways) had given a vote of no confidence to the MSM at the by-election in December 2003, an electoral defeat, seen and felt as the MSM?s rather than that of its MMM partner.

The ?feel good factor? meant to be distilled by the recent budget has also enriched the aura of the minister of Finance, Pravind Jugnauth. And it is the MSM that takes the credit for the budget. The euphoria, that will not last, based on the idea that the budget takes care of the poor, is still in the air and Pravind is seen as the new ?hero.? And he was welcomed as such yesterday. While the auditorium was packed and breathing was becoming a feat by the minute, the excitement could be felt from the hall entrance. ?The leader is coming?, someone shouted. And it was panic. The doors were closed because there was no more room inside; there should be a semblance of order when the leader walked in. But there was no order because the doors were reopened and when the leader walked in amidst the chaos, nothing else mattered. ?Pravind! Pravind! Pravind!? they all shouted in ecstasy. And Pravind smiled, shook hands, happy to be the hero. Something has changed.

Or has it? The MSM has a core electorate; it has its own die-hards. Pravind Jugnauth is not his father but he has his own style. The most impressive thing about Sunday?s rally was the people. There were so many of them. But a lot of work had gone into the organisation. Although many people were there because they would rather be nowhere else, others were there because ?we are going to have briani at the beach.? Some even told of their satisfaction at being given ?Fraser whisky?; for others, beer was good enough.

Vibrant orange

In any case, hats off to the organisers; it was a good show. The supporters were briefed as to when to shout, when to raise their flags and when to applaud. The eyes after a while got used to the vibrant orange, hanging everywhere. The leaders (not all, some have not yet mastered the art of acting) looked festive and ready for the show.

Speakers knew what was expected of them. And they obliged. Supporters were happiest when the ?Macarena party? was mentioned. ?You?re dead, Navin?, they shouted. Prime minister Paul Berenger?s presence was appreciated by many, which probably brought along Soodhun?s comment that ?Bérenger has always stood by us? but there were contradictions and inconsistencies that were hard to ignore. The MSM chooses to call itself the ?party of militants? and we know who prides himself on being the historic leader of the ?militants?, minister Leela Devi Dookun calls her party ?the most credible political party? and we know who must have raised an eyebrow at that. To crown it all, the MSM was created way back in 1983 when Sir Anerood Jugnauth left the MMM. The MSM then was a way of saying no to the MMM. Ashock Jugnauth knows this. He recalled the time when his party was at its beginnings? ?and who would have thought we would come such a long way??, he asked, as if to himself. A long way indeed. So much so, after years of the MSM being the leader of any alliance that would come to power, Bérenger is being thanked today for ?letting Pravind become prime minister after him.? Obviously the person who said that was not the same one who claimed her party was the most credible one.

All through, Bérenger sat straight-faced. He made small talk with Pravind?s wife at regular intervals but he mostly spoke to Jayen Cuttaree, also present. The prime minister cannot have failed to be impressed with the number of people at the rally even if he himself knows how one gets the numbers. But a seasoned politician like Bérenger is hard to read; he has mood swings and you never know which face is the real one?

In any case, the moody expression left his face once he got on stage. In between vilifying the opposition and congratulating Pravind for ?coming into his own?, he also sought to pass a few messages to the press ?who were distilling poison with their negativity?. Bérenger also said he was proud of Pravind for ?his? budget.

Oh! And there were a few pointed questions by speakers about ?those who make fake surveys that say that the MSM represents nothing. Look around you. So many people. Is that nothing??