The election petition of Suren Dayal, defeated Labour candidate of constituency No. 8 (Moka/Quartier Militaire) at the 2019 general elections, will be heard before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on 10 July.
Dayal, a candidate under the National Alliance banner, had filed an election petition against the three elected MPs of Moka/Quartier Militaire (Pravind Jugnauth, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun and Yogida Sawmynaden), claiming that the elections were smeared with irregularities.
The arguments put forward by Suren Dayal in his petition were rejected by the Supreme Court in August 2022. Hence, his move to appeal to the Privy Council. Dayal has claimed that the increase in old-age pensions and salaries prior to the elections were meant to “attract voters”.
Reacting to the news, PM Pravind Jugnauth said he has “always been confident” since day one. “The opponent has been jubilating. Even his lawyers have been jubilating – as if they had already won the case. I trust the Court. Let’s wait and see,” he told reporters.
Jugnauth has sought the services of British law firm Matrix Chambers to defend him in the case before the Privy Council. The law firm had successfully defended him before the Privy Council in the MedPoint case.
Dayal and the Labour Party will be represented by Timothy Straker, King’s Counsel. He will be assisted by Robin Ramburn, Senior Counsel at Sir Hamid Moollan Chambers, and solicitor Hiren Jankee.
The Privy Council is expected to have major political implications if Dayal proves his case that the 2019 elections were manipulated.
In the event the Privy Council rules against Jugnauth, political experts say this would imply that PM Jugnauth’s election could be invalidated.
As such, snap general elections are possible.
Sources: L’Express, Defi Media
