MSM Meeting After General Elections: A “Stormy Silence”

On Monday, January 20, the Political Bureau (BP) of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) convened for the first time since their overwhelming defeat by the Alliance of Change in the recent general elections. The party, which was left with a dismal score of 0 seats out of 65, saw their hopes for victory dashed in a stunning 60-0 outcome.

The meeting, chaired by Pravind Jugnauth, the former Prime Minister and party leader, was held at the Sun Trust Building in Port-Louis under strict confidentiality.

BP members arrived early, including Leela Devi Dookun-Lutchoomun, Lovin Lutchman, Bobby Hurreeram, and Joanne Tour.

Each member exchanged New Year wishes with the journalists present before entering the building.

The atmosphere was heavy, with members appearing uneasy as they sidestepped questions from the press.

Journalists were later kept at a distance, with strict orders issued barring access to the building.

When the party members exited about an hour later, they appeared slightly more relaxed, though their faces remained serious.

Only a few were willing to respond to journalists’ inquiries.

Former Finance Minister Renganaden Padayachy offered little, saying simply, “We are not in a position to comment,” while Pravind Jugnauth, accompanied by Deepak Balgobin, chose to avoid the microphones altogether.

Although no official information emerged from the meeting, it seemed that the main purpose was to discuss strategies for the upcoming municipal elections and to conduct a post-mortem of the recent general elections.

Following such a heavy setback, the MSM now faces the monumental task of rebuilding its image and regaining the trust of its electorate.

The silence that surrounded this meeting speaks volumes about the challenges awaiting the party in the months to come.

Source: l’Express