Impatience is stewing and anxiety is broiling in the MMM camp. The wait is, however, not about to end. Anyone with a modicum of common sense would have realised that there will be no political development for some time to come. But politics isn't about good sense; it's about power.

As things stand, Navin Ramgoolam holds all the cards and all the options are open for him – a situation uncannily similar to that of 2010. And, in politics as in real life, you are only as loyal as your options. So, if Ramgoolam chooses to strike an agreement with the MMM, it is unlikely to be on Paul Bérenger’s terms, hard as this may be for the latter to accept. As it is, Ramgoolam’s zeal to strike an alliance with the MMM has been dampened by the lack of support from his electorate which sees no reason for him to hand over power to Bérenger while going to the State House to have his powers reduced to almost nothing. Initially silent, the electorate is now coming out openly against the 30-30 share of investitures.

Bérenger’s verbosity has not helped. Ever since talk about an alliance and a ‘power share’ started, he has been on all fronts, leading the show. He announces decisions before they have been taken, reads Ramgoolam’s mind, gives us a running commentary of the state of the discussions summed up through the now-famous ‘on’ and ‘off’, ‘emmerdé’ (cheesed off) or ‘touché’ (touched), depending on the circumstances. Now he has even taken on the role of the Prime Minister’s Office’s communication department and has started announcing when press conferences will be held.

Ramgoolam, on the other hand, has kept his cards very close to his chest. That is his style. Secretive and calculating. His options are wider than ever. He can call the PMSD back to the table to have a token representation of the general population or he can even go back into an alliance with the MSM. As things stand, this is what his electorate is putting pressure on him to opt for. A puny partner is always a good option as it leaves you with the lion’s share of power, though one might argue that even the portion given away is disproportionate.

However, just as Bérenger’s heart was not with the MSM in the defunct remake, neither is Ramgoolam’s. “I wouldn’t touch them with a bargepole of rosewood,” he once said, sarcastically alluding to the alleged trafficking by one MSM member. And he probably wouldn’t. If he had a choice.

Which way he will go? He is the only one who knows and it will depend on how much choice his electorate will leave him with. When? We all know: at the eleventh hour. And, no matter how many ultimatums the leader of the opposition announces, the prime minister will not resist the temptation of an eleventh-hour decision. Why should he do anything which would snap the opposition out of its hypnotic state?

Outside parliament, credible alternative candidates are not thick on the ground. Between the guy who was sent by God to save this nation, the virtual campaigners and those who have the secret recipe for eradicating poverty, we are not exactly spoilt for choice. So, we too are as loyal as our options.

Opinion published in Weekly's edition of the 28th August-3rd September