<B>By Deepa BHOOKHUN</B>

My my, whatever happened to Pravind Jugnauth? Did he wake up one morning in a mood and never recovered? I mean something must have happened because, even though Jugnauth Jr has never struck me as the cleverest strategist or most brilliant politician on earth, he has never been that pathetic, let?s face it.

I wonder what goes on in the man?s mind. No that?s not quite right ? clearly Pravind Jugnauth acts in accordance with his whims and caprices so his actions give a pretty clear picture of what?s happening in his head ? and that?s not a pretty picture. But I?d give a lot to know how his mind actually works. Oh come on, wouldn?t you?

Wouldn?t you like to know what happened in his little head when he took cognizance of Paul Bérenger?s words relating to the balance of power of opposition parties at the National Assembly?

I mean, somebody else would have sat there and thought, ?Bugger, does he really have to rub it in? OK, I?m going to find a way of getting back at him!? And then, my fictitious reasonable man would sit and discuss with his advisers that he presumably pays big bucks to and would have come up with something clever. But not so, Pravind Jugnauth. The poor guy is so upset with Bérenger?s words that he gets on his high horse and calls yet another press conference to announce that? (Drums beating) all MSM MPs will resign from all parliamentary committees!

Why? Because they were so ?hurt? by Bérenger?s words! Come off it! Hasn?t anyone told Mr Jugnauth that MPs have responsibilities as well as privileges? That being an elected member of Parliament doesn?t just mean going to the National Assembly every Tuesday and booing everybody who doesn?t share their enthusiasm about their leader and walking out whenever Ashock Jugnauth gets up to address the house? Don?t they know that sitting on parliamentary committees is part and parcel of their job as MP?

Well clearly not. Or maybe they do know but they can?t do otherwise than acquiesce to their leader?s caprices.

Now will Pravind the fanatic (a fanatic, according to Winston Churchill, is someone who won?t change his mind and can?t change the subject -? a description that fits Pravind Jugnauth like a glove,

I must say) go into sulking mode every time one of his opponents opens his/her mouth?

And the million-dollar question ? why didn?t Jugnauth ask the elected MPs of his party to resign as MPs when Bérenger said they were elected from MMM votes?

Ah! Principles are good only when they areconvenient, huh?