[Letter from SV Raju]

Summary

In this personal letter dated April 13, 1974, S. V. Raju writes to J. Ramabhadran about the Swatantra Party’s poor performance in the Madhya Pradesh elections. He reports that the party lost its deposit in 208 of the 212 seats it contested and won only the seat held by the Raja of Bhadawar, whom he describes as an old-timer who organised the party’s 1961 National Convention in Agra. Raju also says that the result in Orissa was unsurprising and attributes the party’s difficulties there to its alliance with “crooks and opportunists.”

Raju explains that he has recently joined Minoo Masani’s firm, Personnel and Productivity Services, and says he has little influence with nationalised banks. He nevertheless offers practical advice about employment for the recipient’s son, recommending training as a stenographer or personal secretary, where he says opportunities are good. The letter closes with a brief inquiry about party affairs in Tamil Nadu.

Key points

• Raju reports that the Swatantra Party lost its deposit in 208 of the 212 Madhya Pradesh seats it contested.
• The party’s only win was the seat of the Raja of Bhadawar, an old party member associated with the 1961 National Convention in Agra.
• Raju describes the party’s result in Orissa as a consequence of joining hands with “crooks and opportunists.”
• He says he joined Minoo Masani’s Personnel and Productivity Services in January 1974.
• Raju states that his influence with nationalised banks is negligible.
• He recommends stenography or personal-secretarial training for Ramabhadran’s son because of strong employment prospects.
• The letter ends by asking about party affairs in Tamil Nadu.