Redrawing the political landscape

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development and Leader of the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) Mr. Pravind Jugnauth is very much at the forefront these days. 

For instance, on Wednesday, he toured two constituencies in the Northern region, more precisely constituency number 5 ( Pamplemousses and Triolet) and constituency number 6 (Grand Baie and Poudre D’Or). Officially, the objectives of these site visits or road shows are to give the opportunity to the Minister of Finance and other members of the Government to assess the progress of infrastructural projects initiated by the State.

ENSURING THAT PROJECTS ARE IMPLEMENTED

In a statement to the media, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth explained that he would ensure that projects announced in the Budget 2016/2017 are effectively implemented, while respecting procedures.     

Everybody agrees that it is in fact the duty of the government to make sure that projects announced by the government are executed and that tax payers’ money is not wasted. Also, hitting the ground to meet with people and talk to them about their concerns form part of the responsibilities of any MP, whether a member of the Government of the Opposition. 

The initiative of the Minister of Finance is undoubtedly very laudable but it could be seen as some sort of political forcing, especially in this very particular situation where he is considered as the Prime Minister-in-waiting. It is now an open secret that he will succeed his father as Prime Minister. 

Each time, he makes a public appearance, Mr. Pravind  Jugnauth has to reply to  the main question from the press regarding the timing for his nomination to the post of Prime Minister. At times, he tries to evade the question and thus gets in the trap of the “destined future”.     

Another argument that tends to indicate that the presence of Mr. Pravind Jugnauth in these constituencies has a political motivation is the fact that the Labour Party is holding a public gathering in Rivière-du-Rempart (number 7-Piton and Rivière- du –Rempart), considered as the stronghold of Sir Anerood Jugnauth. For some time, the former Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party 

Dr Navin Ramgoolam has been very much active and is continuously mobilizing his partisans. The Labour Party did not even observe a truce during fasting periods of Hindus.    

SEEKING THE SUPPORT OF VOTERS        

Some might even give another interpretation to the move of Mr. Pravind Jugnauth: that he is trying to seek the support of the Hindu power base, prior to his nomination as Prime Minister. Constituencies 5, 6 and 7 are considered as some sort of a Hindu belt. It is believed that once these constituencies decide politically, it has a domino effect on the other constituencies with similar ethnic profiles.

This theory was proved at the December 2014 general elections which saw the defeat of Dr Navin Ramgoolam. For the first time, he had the bitter taste of a personal defeat; in the past, he was elected in constituency number 5 despite a defeat of his party at national level. Also his personal defeat confirmed another theory that in Mauritius all political leaders experience a personal defeat at least once during their career. 

Until 2014, Dr Navin Ramgoolam was the only leader to have survived this “humiliating” theory. The list is quite exhaustive: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, Jules Koenig, Sir Gaëtan Duval, Paul Bérenger, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Harish Boodhoo and Pravind Jugnauth. 

On the other hand, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and leader of the PMSD Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval effected a site visit at the Central Market in Port Louis on Thursday morning. He expressed his discontent regarding the lack of cleanliness at this public place, visited by hundreds of Mauritians and tourists every day. He held the Municipal Council of Port Louis responsible for this state of things.   

When political leaders throw away their coats and ties and suddenly decide to feel the pulse of voters, it is clear indication that there is a major political development coming soon, as stylishly announced by the Leader of the Opposition and of the MMM, Mr. Paul Bérenger.

Whoever advised Mr. Pravind Jugnauth to tour these Northern constituencies in the first place is utterly wrong. Instead of trying to woo a particular ethnic group, the Prime Minister-in-waiting ought to have met Mauritians from all walks of life, thus consolidating national unity. In any case, Mr. Pravind Jugnauth’s urban style would never appeal to country bumpkins.  

SIR ANEROOD JUGNAUTH ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT 

Meanwhile the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth seems to concentrating his efforts on the international front. It is very likely that he will be on an official visit to India at mid-November. As such, he would not be present at the National Assembly when Parliament resumes on 15 November. Given that Sir Anerood Jugnauth would step down as Prime Minister, his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi could be the last official one. 

Also, Sir Anerood Jugnauth will not be in a position to attend the ceremony to be held at the Vatican to mark the promotion of Mgr. Maurice Piat to the rank of cardinal on 19 November and the subsequent public mass to be held at St Peter’s Square the next day. It is very likely that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval will lead the Mauritian delegation to this event. 

Another important international meet that is on the agenda of the Prime Minister is the Conference of the “Francophonie” to be held in Antananarivo, Madagacar from 26 to 27 November,2016. With such a busy schedule ahead, it seems unlikely that Sir Anerood Jugnauth will quit as Prime Minister soon. Those who were expecting him to step down before the end of the year will have to wait. The nomination of 

Mr. Pravind Jugnauth as Prime Minister  could take place in March 2017, either prior to the National Day or a few days afterwards. Till date, the date of this important political event is kept in secrecy. Similarly the contours of the new role of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, once he resigns as Prime Minister, are undefined.