There are few words more abused in the Kreol language than Politik Otreman. This is a phrase (usually a poorly-defined grab-bag of pious wishes and self-righteousness) that is used by politicians when they reach the end of their rope within mainstream parties. For those who fall for the trap, what they find is that the old wine, when tasted, turns out be vinegar. And Politik Otreman degenerates into a ridiculous show.

The latest to discover that he wants to do Politik Otreman is Bashir Jahangeer; while an MP, his fire was directed towards Collendavelloo’s ML. But when not given a ticket, he discovers that the MSM too is no good. So Politik Otreman! Then there is the pear party of Alan Ganoo and the cherries party of Jean-Claude Barbier. In 2015, they along with Lesjongard, Joomaye, Ramano and Sorefan left the MMM denouncing the political communalism and the cult of personality of Paul Bérenger. They said they would do politics differently (Politik Otreman). A year later, Lesjongard, Joomaye and Sorefan ‘discovered’ that the MSM run by the Jugnauths had no cult of personality and no communalism and decamped there. Ramano belatedly followed suit. While Ganoo declared that “le MP c’est moi” (so much for criticising Bérenger’s authoritarianism) and joined the MSM bandwagon too. While Barbier is looking for Politik Otreman within the Labour and the PMSD.

Then there is the Politik Otreman of Steven Obeegadoo’s Plateforme Militante. Obeegadoo founded the outfit promising it to be an “alternative” to the traditional parties, criticising the MSM-ML’s electoral reform proposals and denouncing the communal logic of mainstream parties. Then the carrot of two tickets for Obeegadoo and Françoise Labelle were dangled and they too ‘discovered’ that the MSM was great after all. While poor old Pradeep Jeeha is left attempting to use small planters’ woes to keep his political engine running. What is ironic is that while in the MMM, Obeegadoo kept insisting that the MMM ‘go it alone’ in elections and now that it is, it is Obeegadoo who’s plumped for the MSM.

Need we mention another adept of Politik Otreman, Danielle Selvon? She left the MSM in 2015 protesting Roshi Bhadain’s Good Governance and Integrity Reporting Act. So where is she now? She recently joined Bhadain’s Reform Party and got a ticket. Really otreman. Then there is the Politik Otreman of Bhadain himself; an individual who was content to be used as an instrument by the MSM so long as his ambition was kept fed. While in government, he lambasted Ramgoolam. Out of it he attempted to join Ramgoolam. He failed. In government, he lambasted the Rawats. Out of it he attempted to get the Rawats on his side. That didn’t quite work either. So now he announces he will go alone. His Politik Otreman for vrai sanzman is now reduced to childishly insisting that people criticise the government, but throwing a tantrum and lawsuit threats whenever anybody mentions his own role in it.

Collendavelloo’s ML too is another case in point. When Collendavelloo founded the party, it was with a plan no less than taking over the MMM itself and rejuvenating it. With help from the MSM of course. Now years later, all that’s left is Collendavelloo and Toolysraj Benydin to face an onslaught in MMM bastions.

A rule of thumb: when frustrated politicians start crawling out of mainstream parties promising Politik Otreman, don’t believe them. But then again, all of these Politik Otreman types are picking sides in an election where a three-time prime minister promising a rupture the fourth time round is looking to dislodge a government that was founded by a five-time prime minister who promised to deliver a miracle the sixth time round.