[Letter to SV Raju]

Summary

In this letter dated June 26, 1976, Bhanu Pratap Singh replies to S. V. Raju about efforts to merge opposition parties. Singh welcomes Raju’s interest in the merger and looks forward to bringing Minoo Masani and others who had not initially joined the BLD into the proposed new party, while cautioning that the process is not close to completion.

Key points

• Bhanu Pratap Singh acknowledges S. V. Raju’s interest in merging opposition parties.
• Singh hopes that Minoo Masani and other non-members of the BLD will eventually join the new party.
• He identifies the attitude of other parties as decisive to the merger’s success.
• He describes the recalcitrance of Congress (O) leaders as the greatest obstacle.
• He refers Raju to a BLD resolution passed on May 31 and to an enclosed letter to Mr. Ganapaiah.
• He encloses an alternative draft policy statement for the Janata Party and requests Raju’s comments.