Congratulations for your success in the recent by-election in Moka-Q.militaire. Despite the fact that all political pundits ‘predicted’ your defeat and that it would have been better for you as the leader of the MSM not to stand as a candidate, you took up the challenge and proved them wrong. Hats off, Pravind! You are among those rare people who listen to their heart to fight for a cause and are propelled by their strong determination. Of course, where there is a will, there is a way! And you have found out your way, your legitimate place in the National Assembly.
Obviously, Paul should be twisting his lips in irritation. Didn’t he use all ways and means to dissuade the electorate to vote for you? Didn’t he put the stakes very high by openly supporting a candidate proved guilty of fraud and corruption by both the Supreme Court of Mauritius and the Privy Council? Since long, he has tried to destroy you politically, going even that far to replace you as leader in your own party and worse, causing a break -up in your highly respected family! Disgusting! How cheap himself and his acolytes has been to hit you below the belt? But then, truth always wins! You got the favour of the majority of the electorate of the constituency and defeated your adversary by more than 3000 votes.
At the beginning, rumours had it that all odds were against you and the perception was accentuated by all your adversaries who didn’t spare you, without forgetting certain mercenaries who did everything to pick holes in your campaign calling you as ‘sectaire’ or ‘communal’. Others even declared that Ashock was unbeatable, that the constituency N8 was his fortress, his territory, a constituency which he had nourished since 1991. Eventually you proved them all wrong.
My dear Pravind, they are coming with new inventions now. As ‘mauvais perdants’, they are accusing you of having bought the voters and that your election has been tainted by fraud and corruption when the voters themselves witnessed the influx of so many volunteers giving a helping hand all throughout the campaign, be it for the rally, during the interface with the voters or on the polling day. You should have felt the popular support and this is what boosted your moral and strength to go forward. After all, leveling such accusations in a democracy is tantamount to insulting the electorate who voted massively for you.
As though, this is not enough! Some people have become mind readers. Even though you haven’t still taken your seat in the parliament, they pretend to know your intentions, that you will be supporting the government while staying in the opposition, that you will join the government as minister or deputy Prime Minister of the country and other similar scenarios. Admittedly, Pravind, some politicians have very fertile imaginations. They are, as well, very sharp in the skill of concoctions.
What many people fail to recognise, my dear Pravind, is that the MSM Party under your leadership is gaining momentum day by day. The 1st Mai rally in Port-Louis was a kick start and this was followed by the massive convergence of the MSM sympathisers to mark the 25th anniversary of the party at the Swami Vivekananda Conference Centre. Definitely, this trend culminated in the 1st March by-elections. Only those people wearing blinkers will never see the reality. The MSM today is a force to reckon with!
DEV JHUG