To
The Editor January 20, 2005
Rediffmail.com

Re: Shadow cabinet in Maharashtra

Dear Sir,

Apropos your news item "Maharashtra to get shadow cabinet" there is nothing new about the concept. For the readers' information, long before a "people's political front" of the NAPM or before even Sonia Gandhi some time ago could talk of forming a shadow government at Central level, a "people's shadow government with a cabinet" was formed in 1996 by the All India (Press) letter writers association, a 25 year old organisation of conscience keepers. This people's
shadow government however could not be continued because of the ignorance of many who thought that it was a "parallel" or "illegal government" and consequent paucity of funds and inadequate media support which otherwise takes pleasure in publishing insignificant news like MP candidate Govinda's photo standing in railway line to take a ticket to Virar !

It is also erroneous to state in your report that "It is the first time in India that an opposition at the Centre or state level has come up with such an idea." since the Haryana Congress legislature Party (HCLP) under the leadership of Mr. Bhajan Lal had formed such a cabinet sometime in 2000. The pitfall of this "shadow cabinet" was that it contained 21 members, while the official government had only 11 members, thereby defying the spirit of the shadow cabinet.

In the present Maharashtra initiative it is doubtful whether Sarpotdar (with severe criminal charges against him) and the Shiv Sena can contribute much towards a healthy shadow government; but if SS properly understands and implements this concept in its true spirit rather than only political bashing, it can be an effective way towards good governance. Otherwise the
SS-BJP "shadow cabinet" will only leave behind a shadow of communalism and mud-slinging politics, decrying the very spirit of this initiative and further alienating people from such an idea.

What is to be remembered by initiators of such a idea is that, for it to successful in India, there should be tremendous involvement of citizens, social activists, professionals, community persons and not just opposition political representatives through shakas, party offices etc. Ultimately a
shadow government is based on the principle "Co-operate where you can......Resist where you must and.......Appreciate whenever the opportunity arises."

Yours truly
Ronald L. Rebello
Add: 28 Sunrise (552), Samta Nagar,
Kandivali (E), Mumbai 400 101


Tel: 91-22-28872741
Email:  yoursfrankly@rediffmail.com