He tiptoed out of the National Assembly with little noise, where we would have expected a big splash. And he walked back towards the oblivion that he had been living in before he was dug out by the Jugnauths to save them from the electorate through some sort of promised ‘Second Economic Miracle’.

The real miracle is that the population bought into that, and Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo was given the Ministry of Finance seat to warm up for a short while – surprisingly, since the Jugnauths do not normally trust matters dear to their hearts to people outside the family. Then the Euro-loan scandal happened and, just as we thought Lutchmeenaraidoo was dead and buried and the opposition was starting to look for candidates to field in a by-election, he came out of his hideout to make a couple of utterances, which – by the looks of things – seem to have saved him from the same fate as Raj Dayal and Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus. Looking rather smug and knowing, he told the journalists present: “I am the cleanest and most transparent member of this government. I don’t have bank accounts in Hong Kong!” Then, wagging his index finger, he warned, “When I attack, I attack frontally. And I won’t allow anyone – anyone – to tarnish my reputation whatever their hierarchical position. I mean it.”

He said too much, but not enough. Who is less clean than someone accused of borrowing money from a public bank to speculate in gold? Who has illicit bank accounts in Hong Kong? Will we ever know? What we do know is that no one challenged his statement. Instead, he was quickly and surreptitiously shunted off to a new ministry that was immediately made available for him – Foreign Affairs – where he lived quietly and unhappily ever after, sporting a high-sounding title, pocketing a huge salary, but kept entirely out of the loop. You will recall that the International Court of Justice Chagos saga was truly a family affair with the father, mother, son and cousin – Nayen Koomar Ballah – occupying front seats. No sign of the minister of foreign affairs!

Then the exit came at a time he chose, accompanied by another short, enigmatic utterance: “Enough is enough”. Like a writer of suspense books, he again left his audience with things to think about. And it is unlikely that he will come out of the ‘cave’ he allegedly said he was going into, in order to enlighten those who voted for him as to what he has had “enough” of.

Still, the timing of that bold swing has caused a big bang. Did he miss the mark, as Pravind Jugnauth wants us to believe? No one thinks so. He has put the government on the back foot. We are heading straight for a general election at the time that Lutchmeenaraidoo has decided for us. Whatever spiel the spin-doctors and the ‘mad men’ may keep on peddling, no one in his right mind believes in a by-election or gives any credence to the bluff of a prime minister who (in the National Assembly, no less) last year declared, “We have made a provision in the budget for the holding of Village Council elections this year… so let’s get ready” – then, when asked by our colleague from l’express to specify the date, denied having ever said that there would be elections that year – and even asked for proof.

The prime minister no longer has the cards in hand to play as he wishes. And Lutchmeenaraidoo has said too much not to spill the beans. Will he?

For more views and in-depth analysis of current issues, Weekly magazine (Price: Rs 25) or subscribe to Weekly for Rs110 a month. (Free delivery to your doorstep). Email us on: weekly@lexpress.mu