Anil Bachoo

{{Short description|Minister of Health and Wellness}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Anil Bachoo | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|list=GOSK}} | image = Anil Bachoo, 2025.jpg | caption = Bachoo in 2025.

{{collapsed infobox section begin | cont = yes | last = yes | Ministerial offices {{nobold|1991–{{wj}}2014}} | titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey; }} {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | order2 = Minister of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping {{nobold|Public Infrastructure and Land Transport (2004–2005)}} | prime_minister2 = Navin Ramgoolam | term_start2 = 13 September 2008 | term_end2 = 13 December 2014 | predecessor2 = Rashid Beebeejaun | successor2 = Nando Bodha {{small|(Public Infrastructure and Land Transport)}} Prem Koonjoo {{small|(Shipping)}} | prime_minister3 = Anerood Jugnauth Paul Bérenger | term_start3 = 17 September 2000 | term_end3 = 3 February 2005 | predecessor3 = | successor3 = Rashid Beebeejaun

| order4 = Minister of National Development Unit | prime_minister4 = Navin Ramgoolam | term_start4 = 11 May 2010 | term_end4 = 13 December 2014 | predecessor4 = Lormus Bundhoo {{small|(Environment and NDU)}} | successor4 = Anerood Jugnauth {{small|(Rodrigues and NDU)}} | term_start5 = 7 July 2005 | term_end5 = 13 September 2008 | predecessor5 = Rajesh Bhagwan {{small|(Environment and NDU)}} | successor5 = Lormus Bundhoo {{small|(Environment and NDU)}}

| order6 = Minister of Environment | prime_minister6 = Navin Ramgoolam | term_start6 = 7 July 2005 | term_end6 = 13 September 2008 | predecessor6 = Rajesh Bhagwan {{small|(Environment and NDU)}} | successor6 = Lormus Bundhoo {{small|(Environment and NDU)}}

| order8 = Minister of Trade and Shipping | prime_minister8 = Anerood Jugnauth | term_start8 = 27 September 1991 | term_end8 = 1993 | predecessor8 = | successor8 = {{collapsed infobox section end}} }}

{{collapsed infobox section begin | cont = yes | last = yes | Senior political offices | titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey; }} {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | order = General Secretary of Labour Party<ref>{{cite web |title=Partielle Piton/Rivière-du-Rempart : parcours du candidat travailliste Anil Bachoo 14-August-2019 |url=https://defimedia.info/partielle-pitonriviere-du-rempart-parcours-du-candidat-travailliste-anil-bachoo |publisher=Defimedia |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref> | term_start = 1983 | term_end = 1987 | predecessor = | successor = | order1 = Leader of ''Mouvement Travailliste Démocrate'' (MTD) | term_start1 = 1987 | term_end1 = 1995 | predecessor1 = | successor1 = {{collapsed infobox section end}} }}

{{collapsed infobox section begin | cont = yes | last = yes | Parliamentary offices | titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey; }} {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | office = {{unbulleted list|Member of Parliament|for Flacq and Bon Accueil}} | term_start = 11 November 2024 | predecessor = Sudheer Maudhoo | term_start1 = 11 September 2000 | term_end1 = 6 October 2014 | predecessor1 = Vinod Bojeenauth | successor1 = Raj Dayal | term_start2 = 15 September 1991 | term_end2 = 16 November 1995 | predecessor2 = Vinod Bojeenauth | successor2 = Vinod Bojeenauth{{Collapsed infobox section end}} }}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|9|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Rivière du Rempart, British Mauritius | spouse = Shanondevi Bachoo | children = | party = Labour Party {{small|(2010–present)}} | other_party = Mouvement Socialiste Démocrate {{small|(2005–2010)}} Militant Socialist Movement {{small|(1995–2005)}} Mouvement Travailliste Démocrate {{small|(1987–1995)}} Labour Party {{small|(1978–1987)}} | profession = Secondary school teacher (Hinduism) | website = }} '''Anil Kumar Bachoo''' {{post-nominals|list=GOSK}} (born 6 September 1953), also known as '''Anil Baichoo''', is a Mauritian politician who has been Minister of Health and Wellness since November 2024. A member of the Labour Party, Bachoo has previously held the office of vice-prime minister under Navin Ramgoolam's government from 2011 to 2014.

==Teaching career== Anil Bachoo obtained a PGCE from the Mauritius College and worked as a secondary school teacher from 1972 to 1978. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from India and then taught Hinduism at Eastern College located in Flacq. From 1995 to 2000, as a break from active politics, he was the deputy rector of Universal College, a secondary school located in the rural district of Rivière du Rempart.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anil Kumar Baichoo Minister for Environment and NDU |url=https://wsds.teriin.org/2008/bio/day%202/Anil_Bachoo.pdf |publisher=World Sustainable Development Forum |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>

==Political career== Bachoo joined the youth wing of the Labour Party (''Jeunes Travaillistes'') in 1978. He was a candidate of the ''Parti de l’Alliance Nationale'' (Labour Party-PMSD) for the first time in 1982 at Constituency No.7 Piton-Rivière-du-Rempart, but was not elected as he came out in fourth place (24.3% of votes) behind the 3 candidates of ''Alliance MMM PSM'', that is, Anerood Jugnauth (78.33%), Dharam Gokhool (73.41%) and Mahen Utchanah (72.66%).<ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - Legislative Assembly Elections held on 11 June 1982 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>

Bachoo did not receive the investiture of any party for the August 1983 elections, despite being the general secretary of the Labour Party.<ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - Legislative Assembly Elections held on 21 August 1983 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Seblin |first1=Michaëlla |title=Passion, gloire et infidélité…. |url=https://www.5plus.mu/node/18182 |publisher=5Plus |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

On 9 May 1987 he left the Labour Party (then led by Satcam Boolell) along with Meckduth Chumroo, Sanjit Teelock and 17 others to form a new splinter group and party called ''Mouvement Travailliste Démocrate (MTD)''. MTD adopted a lotus as its symbol. The MTD formed a short-lived alliance with the MMM and Sylvio Michel's FTS. At the 30 August 1987 General Elections he was a candidate of ''L'Union MMM MTD FTS'' at Constituency No. 9 - Flacq and Bon Accueil but he was again not elected, coming out in 4th place behind Vinod Bojeenauth (MSM-PTr), Rajnarain Guttee (MSM-PTr) and Iswurdeo Seetaram (MSM-PTr).<ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - Legislative Assembly Elections held on 30 August 1987 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Anil Bachoo et Sanjit Teelock démissionnent du Parti travailliste 12-May-2018 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/331353/anil-bachoo-et-sanjit-teelock-demissionnent-parti-travailliste |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

At the 1991 General Elections, Anil Bachoo was a candidate of the MSM and was elected for the first time in his career to the Legislative Assembly as part of the MMM-MSM coalition. In 1993 Bachoo remained in the MSM government, whilst some of the MMM parliamentarians joined the opposition after the break-up of the ruling MMM-MSM alliance, and the remaining MMM MPs formed a new party called the RMM.<ref>{{cite web |title=Il y a 23 ans, le 27 juin 1994: Création du Renouveau militant mauricien |url=https://www.lexpress.mu/article/310644/il-y-23-ans-27-juin-1994-creation-renouveau-militant-mauricien |website=lexpress.mu |date=27 June 2017 |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Partielle Piton/Rivière-du-Rempart : parcours du candidat travailliste Anil Bachoo 14-Aug-2019 |url=https://defimedia.info/partielle-pitonriviere-du-rempart-parcours-du-candidat-travailliste-anil-bachoo |publisher=Defimedia |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>

Bachoo was a candidate of the MSM-RMM coalition at the December 1995 General Elections in Constituency No.9 Flacq Bon-Accueil but came out in fourth place with only 34% of votes, heavily defeated by candidates (Vinod Bojeenauth, Ajay Gunness and Gian Nath) of the rival Labour-MMM alliance led by Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Bérenger. After this electoral defeat and a dispute with general secretary Sanjit Teelock over the future of the MTD, Bachoo left the MTD to join the MSM. Bachoo wished to dissolve the MTD into the MSM but Teelock did not agree, and Bachoo went back to secondary school teaching until 2000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kalla |first1=Iqbal |title=Qui donc est M. Bachoo? |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/idee/qui-donc-est-m-bachoo |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - Legislative Assembly Elections held on 20 December 1995 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed Khan |first1=Iqbal |title=Electoral petition: the enigma of Anil Bachoo 11-January-2021 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/387448/electoral-petition-enigma-anil-bachoo |publisher=L'Express |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>

In preparation for the September 2000 General Elections, Bachoo played a key role in forging the MSM/MMM alliance which would eventually enable Paul Bérenger to become the first non-Hindu Prime Minister of Mauritius. At these elections Bachoo ran as candidate of the MSM/MMM alliance in Constituency No. 9 and was elected with 65% of votes at the top of the list, ahead of his running mates Sangeet Fowdar and Prem Koonjoo who defeated Ramesh Sunt, Lormesh Bundhoo and Dan Beeharry of the ''Alliance PTr-PMXD''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - Legislative Assembly Elections held on 11 September 2000|url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Seblin |first1=Michaëlla |title=Passion, gloire et infidélité…. |url=https://www.5plus.mu/node/18182 |publisher=5Plus |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Degnarain |first1=Nishan |title=Ethnic handover in Mauritius 30-Sep-2003 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3151696.stm |publisher=BBC Africa |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

Along with Mukeshwar Choonee and Meckduth Chumroo, Bachoo left the MSM in February 2005 and formed a new party that they called ''Mouvement Socialiste Démocrate'' (MSD) in preparation for the 3 July 2005 General Elections. The MSD then allianced with the Labour Party to form ''Alliance Sociale''. Bachoo was a candidate at Constituency No.9 and came out once again at the top of the list with 60.7% of votes, followed by his allies Rajen Mungur and Dharam Gokhool. From 12 July 2005 to 13 September 2008, he was the Minister of Environment and NDU, and then became Minister of Public Infrastructure until the May 2010 elections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Partielle Piton/Rivière-du-Rempart : parcours du candidat travailliste Anil Bachoo 14-Aug-2019 |url=https://defimedia.info/partielle-pitonriviere-du-rempart-parcours-du-candidat-travailliste-anil-bachoo |publisher=Defimedia |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - Legislative Assembly Elections held on 05 July 2005 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rainer |first1=Nicolas |title=The One and Only Anil Bachoo 5-January-2006 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/one-and-only-anil-bachoo |publisher=L'Express |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>

After the 2010 General Elections, Bachoo was elected at the top of the list in Constituency No.9 with 65.9% of votes, followed by the other candidates of ''Alliance PTR-PMSD-MSM'' Dhiraj Singh Khamajeet and Prithvirajsing Roopun. Bachoo again held the portfolio of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. In 2011 he was also made the Vice Prime Minister. He led these ministries until dissolution of parliament before the 2014 General Elections.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/AssemblySite/menuitem.3bef52ce598560451251701065c521ca/?content_id=729ca7d12664a010VgnVCM1000000a04a8c0RCRD |title=Hon. Members |access-date=1 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007190637/http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/AssemblySite/menuitem.3bef52ce598560451251701065c521ca/?content_id=729ca7d12664a010VgnVCM1000000a04a8c0RCRD |archive-date=7 October 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - Legislative Assembly Elections held on 05 May 2010|url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

As a candidate of the Labour-MMM alliance at Constituency No.9 at the December 2014 General Elections, Bachoo was defeated by rival candidates of MSM-led ''Alliance Lepep'', namely Raj Dayal, Rajcoomar Rampertab and Prithvirajsing Roopun. Bachoo came out in fourth place with 42.29% of votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - National Assembly Elections held on 10 December 2014 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>

Bachoo was once again defeated at Constituency No.9 at the November 2019 General Elections as a candidate of ''L'Alliance Nationale'' led by the Labour Party. He came out in fourth place (42.5% of votes) after the 3 candidates of ''L'Alliance Morisien'', namely Sudheer Maudhoo (50.3%), Deepak Balgobin (49.7%), and Vikash Nuckcheddy (47.2%). This second consecutive defeat at general elections was mainly attributed to Bachoo's diminishing influence on socio-cultural organisations such as the Mauritius Sanathan Dharma Temple’s Federation (MSDTF).<ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - National Assembly Elections held on 07 November 2019 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmed Khan |first1=Iqbal |title=Electoral petition: the enigma of Anil Bachoo 11-January-2021 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/387448/electoral-petition-enigma-anil-bachoo |publisher=L'Express |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>

At the 10 November 2024 elections Bachoo came out at the top of the list as a candidate of ''Alliance du Changement'' at Constituency No.9 with 58.7% of votes, ahead of R. Beechook and C.Ramkalawon who were also elected. On 22 November 2024 Bachoo took an oath as the new Minister of Health and Wellness, forming part of the new cabinet of 24 ministers and 10 ''junior ministers'', but despite the size of his ministry no junior minister was appointed to assist him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Results for National Assembly Elections - National Assembly Elections held on 10 November 2024 |url=https://electoral.govmu.org/oec/?page_id=1641 |publisher=Office of the Electoral Commissioner |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title=24 ministres + 10 junior ministers 23-Nov-2024 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/24-ministres-10-junior-ministers-540196 |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===2011 incompetence and registration plates scandal=== Paul Bérenger described Bachoo as a "clown and incompetent who's a national shame" given the series of unpopular decisions imposed on motorists. After changing the legal requirements for fire extinguishers and speedometers, Bérenger described minister Bachoo's changes to registration plates as confusing and unnecessary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Bérenger à Plaine Verte : Anil Bachoo fait honte au pays 14-April-2011 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/paul-b%C3%A9renger-%C3%A0-plaine-verte-%C2%ABanil-bachoo-fait-honte-au-pays%C2%BB |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

===2013 multiple fatalities after floods due to roadworks in Port Louis=== Soon after the 30-March-2013 floods in Port Louis which killed 11 people, protesters marched in front of the National Assembly to demand the resignation of Minister Anil Bachoo. Alain Bertrand, spokesperson of the ''Black Saturday Emergency Committee'', deemed Bachoo to be incompetent as he failed to protect citizens as main drains were blocked and public works (for an extra lane from Caudan to Harbour Front) were so badly planned and executed that 11 people died as they became trapped during seasonal floods. Activist Salim Muthy also asked Minister Bachoo to resign in order to enable a fair investigation into this scandal. Salim Muthy also asked for the public disclosure of the wealth and assets accumulated by minister Bachoo, the head of the National Development Unit (NDU) and the head of the Road Development Authority. On 29 April 2013 a monument was erected at Rogers Square as a memorial for the 11 victims, but Anil Bachoo failed to attend the ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Port-Louis: des manifestants réclament la démission immédiate d’Anil Bachoo 8-April-2013 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/port-louis-des-manifestants-r%C3%A9clament-la-d%C3%A9mission-imm%C3%A9diate-d%E2%80%99anil-bachoo |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Post-Inondations meurtrières: Anil Bachoo sous pression ! 7-April-2013 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/politique/post-inondations-meurtrieres-anil-bachoo-sous-pression/102782/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Au Rogers Square Anil Bachoo brille par son absence |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/au-rogers-square-anil-bachoo-brille-son-absence/101069/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Seebaruth |first1=Jagdish |title=Public demand for the resignation of Anil Bachoo as Minister 6-April-2013 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/idee/public-demand-resignation-anil-bachoo-minister |publisher=L'Express |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref>

===2013 attacks on journalists=== On 20 June 2013 when he was the No.4 of the government (Vice Prime Minister and Ministry of Public Infrastructure), Anil Bachoo spoke out to the public at Plaine Gersigny, Flacq against journalists who covered the Varmagate Labour Party scandal and he labelled them as "animals", "mentally ill" and as "having no School Certificate", and that all they know is "write a little bit of French". Journalist Dharmanand Dhooharika of ''Samedi Plus'' then lodged an official complaint to the police, asking for an independent inquiry into what he considered as a case of sedition or libel against all journalists.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anil Bachoo traite les journalistes d’animaux 21-June-2013 |url=https://lexpress.mu/s/article/anil-bachoo-traite-les-journalistes-danimaux |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dhooharika porte plainte contre le ministre Bachoo 21-June-2013 |url=https://lexpress.mu/node/230616 |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=À Plaine Gersigny: Anil Bachoo traite les journalistes de “zanimo” avant de se rétracter |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/le-mauricien/plaine-gersigny-anil-bachoo-traite-les-journalistes-zanimo-avant-se-retracter/97379/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

===2013 NTC procurement scandal and road fatalities=== Ashwin Dookun, president of the CNT, revealed in the press that Anil Bachoo could be exerting undue political interference on the Central Procurement Board (CPB) during the bidding process for new buses at the National Transport Corporation (NTC). As a result tenderer ''Iframac'' received an unfair advantage over competitors such as ''ABC Motors''. Anerood Jugnauth also demanded Bachoo's resignation as his incompetence and lack of vision had resulted in the maladministration of NTC which was nearly bankrupt. Several fatal accidents (such as at Sorèze highway and the case of a door of an NTC bus which became loose were mentioned as examples of the poor fleet maintenance under Bachoo's watch.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashwin Dookun : Bachoo serait-il derrière les machinations du CPB ? 12-July-2013 |url=https://lexpress.mu/amp/231779 |publisher=L'Express |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CNT : Directement responsable, Anil Bachoo doit partir selon SAJ 30-June-2013 |url=https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/politique/cnt-directement-responsable-anil-bachoo-doit-partir-selon-saj/96875/ |publisher=Le Mauricien |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bachoo, Anil}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:Vice prime ministers of Mauritius Category:Militant Socialist Movement politicians Category:Labour Party (Mauritius) politicians Category:Mauritian politicians of Indian descent Category:Mauritian Hindus Category:Mauritian MPs 2024–2029 Category:Mauritian MPs 2010–2014