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Eunuchs can teach politicians
a lesson or two

If a former Congress minister and his supporters have their way then the first eunuch Member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Shabnam Mausi would lose her membership of the House.

The Congress is upset with her spat with former public works department minister Bisahulal Singh, which saw her at her street-smart thunder clapping best.

Just a day earlier, Shabnam had created a stir in the state secretariat by taking on the president of the Shahdol nagar panchayat (town municipality).

A eunuch wave swept the state with the advent of the new millenium. Five of them, now christened as the paanch Pandavas, got elected to various public offices.

Kamla Jaan, a stern looking no-nonsense eunuch, captured the Katni mayor's post, while Meenabai became the president of the Sehora town municipality, the oldest civic body in the state. Heera Bai and Gulshan were elected corporators in Jabalpur and Bina, respectively.

However, the topping on the cake came when Shabnam Mausi won the by-election to the Sohagpur constituency, which fell vacant when the sitting MLA died, polling more votes than that polled by the Congress and BJP candidates put together.

The voters don't regret their decision. In less than a year, Shabnam has done more work for them than her predecessors had in an entire term.

In the assembly, she has outshone her colleagues with considered and weighty arguments: she was the only one in a house of 320 who opposed the formation of Chhattisgarh on the grounds that it would weaken the social fabric of a state which has remained one for forty years.

"She has more native intelligence than most other Members of the Legislative Assembly and her grasping power is the most phenomenal I have seen,'' says Speaker Sriniwas Tiwari, a veteran of two terms in the chair.

Shabnam Mausi knows and can converse fluently in 14 languages and has adequate knowledge of the Constitution. At one time, she had a busy career in Bombay acting in bit roles in films starring Amitabh Bachchan (Amar Akbar Anthony) and Rajesh Khanna (Janata Hawaldar).

She does not let go of any trick to get her work done. Already, despite being an independent, she has more clout than other legislators. In the corridors of the secretariat, it is well known that none of her requests are ever refused.

She has managed to get a 30-bed hospital sanctioned for Dharmpuri in her constituency and has got a new filter plant for the town.

"I have won on the ground that I'll do justice without fear or favour, since I have no one of my own. I hope I am doing that,'' Shabnam Mausi says.

Chief Minister Digvijay Singh considers her an important ally: "She is a brave, intelligent woman who knows her job. I would rather have her on my side than see her in the opposition.''

Despite his political acumen, Digvijay Singh has failed to find a method to deal with Shabnam. While he keeps her mollified by sanctioning work in her constituency, his actions are being seen as favouritism by his own party legislators.

This has led many to believe that eunuchs may be the answer to the shamelessness and greed of the modern day politician.

However, despite their success, it will be a long time before main stream parties give them tickets to contest elections.

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