[Letter to SV Raju]

Summary

This 14 November 1974 letter from V. S. Srikumar, Secretary of the Madras District Swatantra Party, to S. V. Raju discusses the organisational consequences of a proposed merger with the BLD. Srikumar reports efforts to convene the Swatantra Party’s National Executive in Bombay, partly to secure better press coverage, and asks Raju to encourage K. M. Munshi to agree. He also considers the party symbol and urges a separate resolution to the Election Commission to prevent possible mischief.

The letter characterises the BLD as making little progress while diverting contributions that might otherwise support the Swatantra Party. The enclosure is a Kerala State Council resolution dated 10 November 1974. It rejects an allegedly unilateral merger by some state office-bearers as unwarranted and undemocratic, expels three named members, affirms that the Kerala unit will continue, and authorises a committee under A. V. Varkey to regulate party affairs and pursue legal possession of Swatantra Party properties. The supplied pages include the letter, its enclosure, and the associated postal envelope; the resolution is shown in duplicate renderings.

Key points

• Srikumar asks Raju to help secure a Bombay meeting of the Swatantra Party’s National Executive.
• The proposed meeting is presented as a way to coordinate the party and obtain stronger press coverage.
• The letter raises the need for a separate resolution on the election symbol for communication to the Election Commission.
• Srikumar says the BLD is not making progress while diverting contributions from the Swatantra Party.
• The enclosed Kerala resolution rejects an allegedly unilateral merger with the BLD as undemocratic.
• The Kerala State Council expels K. T. Joseph, A. J. Dominic, and Johnson J. Vallikappan.
• The resolution affirms the continuation of the Kerala Swatantra Party and authorises legal steps concerning party properties.