MMMSP was founded by a splinter group led by linguist, playwright and politician Dev Virahsawmy on 23 March 1973 soon after the dissidents had left the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM).[3] The split from the MMM occurred shortly after the release from jail of MMM leaders and other trade unionists on 23 December 1972 during the state of emergency.[4] Other notable members of MMMSP were: Hervé Masson, Reynolds Michel, Geean Mahadeea, Roshan Sobhee, Georges Comerasamy, Swadicq Peerally, Peter Craig, Iqbal Kalla, Patti Craig, Mario Dada, Yoga Appadu, Dan Callikan, Amba Lutchumanen, Brigitte Masson, and Bam Cuttayen.[5][6][7]
The newly-formed party was also dubbed MMM sans Paul, meaning "MMM without Paul" given that its founders wanted to preserve their stance as revolutionaries and wanted to distance themselves from Paul Bérenger who was making too many compromises with the capitalists and the establishment.[8]
