Ajay Daby
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| Ajay Daby |
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Speaker of the legislative assembly
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| In office 1983 – 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Mr Alan Ganoo |
| Succeeded by | Mr Iswardeo Seetaram |
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| Born | December 29, 1955 Mauritius |
| Political party | Democratic National Congress |
| Spouse | Geeta Daby |
Ajay Chattradhari Daby (born 29th December 1955) is a very popular political figure in Mauritius. He did his secondary schooling at the Royal College of Curepipe. Called to the Bar in 1978, Mr Daby studied in the United Kingdom and is a member of The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, London. He is married to Geeta Prayag, of the famous Prayag family of Rivière du Rempart, renowned land owners, sugarcane planters and social activists in the north of the island, and herself a State Laureate from the Queen Elizabeth College and doctor from the University of Sheffield.
Mr Daby is 25 when he comes back to Mauritius and starts his legal career as a private legal practitioner before joining the State Law Office as State Prosecutor, but only for a very brief period. He soon resigns from his post in the Judiciary to join politics. He is elected MP in 1982 in Flacq-Bon Acceuil, Constituency No 9 for the first time at the age of 26 and thus becomes the youngest MP in the country in the famous '60-0 election' in Mauritius. He is further elected as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Mauritius, the youngest deputy-speaker ever. In 1983 he joins hands with Sr Aneerood Jugnauth as one of the founders of the Militant Socialist Movement -MSM, is re-elected MP of Flacq-Bon Acceuil under the banner of the newly created MSM and goes on to become the youngest Speaker of the Commonwealth and Association des Parlementaires de langue Francaise (AIPLF). He stays closely associated with Sir Anerood Jugnauth, leader of the MSM. In 1987 he ie elected MP a third time, again under the leadership of Sir Anerood Jugnauth,this time in Constituency No 11 (Rose-Belle/Vieux Grand Port) and is called upon to take the post of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly again.
In 1990, on a question of principle, however, he refuses to give the casting vote much needed by Government to change the status of Mauritius to that of a republic and severe ties with the British Crown. He voices his dissent with his leader and party on this question. Meanwhile the MSM has joined the MMM in a coalition and Mr Daby is asked to resign as Speaker. On a question of principle, again, he refuses to resign. Government does not have the required three-quarters majority to expel him and sadly, moves on to amend the Constitution to enable his removal by a simple majority. On 5 December 1990, the Constitution is amended to expel Mr Daby from his Speakership, only hours before the birth of his second child. Parallel with this act, Mr Ajay Daby is also expelled from the MSM.He is immediately recuperated by the Labour Party but the association is short lived.
In 2001, he is made Commissionner against Drugs and Asset Forfeiture under the government of Sir Anerood Jugnauth and later, Paul Bérenger. When the government loses at the 2005 elections, he resigns from his post, claiming that as a political nominee, he has no moral right to stay in the new government. On the 1st March 2006, Ajay Daby creates his political party, the Democratic National Congress.
Ajay Daby is very well known for his franc parler, openness and courageous stance with regard to numerous political issues. Very hardworking, with an immaculate reputation whilst having held public office, Mr Daby is also the proud father of a daughter. Mr Daby is renowned for his oratorial prowess at public meetings, Mr Daby has left a significant imprint in the history of Mauritius despite being only 52.
«I had a chance in a million to serve the public (...) . I attempted. The rest is history.» [Ajay Daby]
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