Communalist campaign, abuse of institutions won the elections for MSM-ML: Shakeel

PTR surviving leader in the recent elections, Shakeel Mohamed says outgoing regime’s dirty tactics won them the polls.

He says there are multiple contributing factors to the results that shock the population.

“The abuse of institutions, the use of the local Television station as a propaganda machine and a communalist campaign,” are some of the many factors.

He says the government resorted to a vile communal campaign to win votes. Jugnauth’s party pulled a surprise winning most rural seats, which observers attribute to the dirty communal campaign.

Mohamed condemns these actions saying his party will not give the new government of Pravind Jugnauth any chance.

The PTR second in command says he does not agree with the MMM, another opposition party, on a ‘ceasefire’ with the government for a certain period.

“No, we will not give them time to reflect. We will start work right away,” he said to the Defi Media newspaper.

He believes it is not a new government that is coming to power but the continuation of the old regime.

Primarily, he says he is ready to face the Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauh in Parliament if he is chosen as the new official Opposition Leader.

Mohamed says the population will pay the price for the choice made by 37% of the population. This is the score the MSM-ML-Allies scored during the Thursday polls.

The MSM-ML-Allies won 39 seats, lesser than its 2014 performance and won lesser popular support altogether.

But a flaw in the electoral system, which is the first past the post system, gave them a comfortable majority in the 70-seat Parliament.

“More than 60% of the population voted against them. But the country will pay the price for the 37% who votes for the government,” he says.

The MSM alliance in Parliament will have 42 MPs (including 4 Best Losers), the PTR 17 (including 3 Best Losers), the MMM 9, including one Best Loser and there are 2 MPs from Rodrigues Island.