Blog: MMM-MSM-Remake 2000 In Desperation

How desperate MMM and MSM could be to even think of a remake alliance 2000. The remake implies that the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth resigns and takes the leadership of the MSM, opens negotiations with MMM on seat and power sharing on the basis of three years premiership to Sir Anerood Jugnauth as leader of the MSM and two years to Paul Berenger as leader to the MMM.

It also implies that MMM will accommodate MSM candidates in its stronghold constituencies in urban areas. In 2000, the Labor had alienated quite a few of its followers by ignoring them; Harish Boodhoo had found an opportunity to lead them and the majority of people were so fed up that they were craving for “mille fois Jugnauth.”  I do not see anything like that today. Navin Ramgoolam won the 2010 elections and has a mandate and majority to govern till 2015.

The MMM-MSM alliance in 2000 was not based on love, ideology or program. It was coming together of people with interests to settle scores with Navin Ramgoolam. Even then Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Paul Berenger were not willing to come together. Harish Boodhoo, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth and vested interests forced them to join hands.

In order to consolidate the MSM and the alienated laborites, an underground campaign was successfully launched saying that SAJ will never allow Paul Berenger to accede the post of Prime Minister. “To conne bolom la. Li pou met Paul dehor ar coup pié”. I am happy that SAJ kept his word, moved to Réduit as President, made Paul Berenger Prime Minister and chose Pravind Jugnauth his son as leader of the MSM. In the process, he broke his family and alienated his brother Ashok Jugnauth.

The alliance did not survive. It is said that if two of the three main parties MMM, MSM and Labor come together, the third one will be defeated. Navin Ramgoolam proved that theory wrong. Labor defeated the ruling alliance of MMM and MSM in 2005. Not only that, Pravind Jugnauth, leader of the MSM, DPM and Minister of Finance was personally defeated. Labor settled its scores with MMM and MSM and avenged the humiliating defeat of SSR and Labor in 1982 and its own defeat in 2000.

Circumstances had dictated that MSM rules the country for nearly sixteen years with the help of Labor and MMM in turn. Of course, credit should be given to the leadership of SAJ and the vision of SSR in 1983 to keep MMM out of power for thirteen years. SSR had accepted to leave active politics in the interest of the party and the country. To give space to Sir Anerood Jugnath to flourish. SSR was right. SAJ did a splendid job.

Until Labor was revived under the leadership of Navin Ramgoolam and in alliance with MMM in 1995 Navin Ramgoolam put an end to the reign of MSM. The alliance did not last. Navin Ramgoolam kicked MMM out of government. Being new to power, Navin Ramgoolam alienated a lot of laborites. He never thought that MMM and MSM and the alienated laborites under the leadership of Harish Boodhoo will come together in year 2000.

SAJ never wanted to have an alliance with MMM. Paul Berenger was also not keen. Harish Boodhoo, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth and those in MMM who saw power within their grasp, forced and convinced Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Paul Berenger to work together.

Just because Sir Anerood forgot to acknowledge the contribution of Harish Boodhoo in their victory, Harish Boodhoo left the alliance and started opposing and demolishing the same persons he helped to bring into power. He is a master in this game. The MMM and the MSM also seized that opportunity to alienate the alienated laborites. These forces came together, broke the MSM and took away Anil Bachoo and his party to the open arms of Navin Ramgoolam.

MMM-MSM burst after their defeat. But MSM had managed to win more seats than MMM. MSM decided to make Nando Bodha leader of the opposition, thus snubbing Paul Berenger. MMM could not digest this insult. With the help of two PMSD MPs, Paul Berenger snatched the post of leader of opposition. MMM and MSM parted in an ugly manner.

Navin Ramgoolam as an experienced strategist helped Pravind Jugnauth to come back to Parliament in a by election. He established an excellent relationship with the President of the Republic and Lady Sarojini Jugnauth. In spite of a public offer of MMM to make an alliance with Labor in 2010, thus guaranteeing a 60-0 win for Navin Ramgoolam. Navin Ramgoolam preferred to go with MSM. He responded to the wish of both the grassroots supporters of MSM and Labor.

Unfortunately, the mishandling of the Medpoint case broke the alliance. Pravind Jugnauth forced all MSM ministers to resign in solidarity with Maya Hanoomanjee who was arrested and released on bail by ICAC.

Later even Pravind Jugnauth was arrested and released on bail. Now that the MSM is in opposition, the followers of the MSM feel betrayed.

Even Virendra Ramdhun, President of Hindu House, a well known supporter of SAJ, called the reasons advanced by Pravind Jugnauth “bancale” and called upon the leaders to patch up. MSM was in opposition for five years and now will have to wait for another four years. It feels the only way for its survival is a remake of the 2000 alliance with Sir Anerood Jugnauth as leader. I feel that it is afraid that it will fare worse than the MDM party of Raj Dayal. Raj Dayal was a hero to many. By calling Sir Anerood Jugnauth to take the leadership of the MSM, he proves that his eight year of MSM leadership is a fiasco.

SAJ is 82 years old. By the time general elections will be held he will be 86. I believe SAJ deserves a better fate on account of his contribution in making modern Mauritius. A recent poll has shown that 78% of the participants feel that if SAJ takes the leadership of MSM, he is going to do so to safeguard the interest of his clan and not in national interest. During 2005-2010, 54,000 workers had lost their jobs without any form of compensation. During 2005-2010, Labor had introduced a protective net of a year salary to anyone who happened to lose his job.

It is obvious that conditions of a remake do not exist. Anil Bachoo and his team had already left MSM in 2005. The alienated laborites of 2000 had joined Labor in 2005. The alienated MSM supporters are publicly supporting Navin Ramgoolam. Harish Boodhoo may once more find a platform but he is nothing without the support he enjoyed in 2000. All his supporters have left and joined Navin Ramgolam.

Among socio cultural organizations, the comeback of SAJ is compared to Dritrashtra the blind king of the Mahabharata. The blind king had tilted in favor of his son Duryodhan. Hence the Mahabharata war. We all know that victory came where there was justice, Arjuna and Krishna.

I do not see how the remake can work. MSM has become an alien body to MMM and Paul Berenger knows it. Its importance is only temporary on account of the number of MPs it has in Parliament. During these diwali celebration days, Navin Ramgoolam has skillfully and masterly conveyed the message that the values of the Ramayana should prevail. In Gandhi ji’s words there should be Ram rajya. Victory of good over evil, of light over darkness.

The best scenario for all parties will be to go separately. They may have a post electoral alliance as happened in the UK. It will be an opportunity for the MSM to build its strength. It has the financial means to do so and sustain itself. Who knows? Just like the MMM had replaced the PMSD as the main opposition, MSM may do the same if it really works hard as MMM did. It will be legitimate for Pravind Jugnauth to stand on his own feet. A so called remake will be seen just a desperate move to grab power.