Draft Election Manifesto

Summary

The Swatantra Party’s Draft Election Manifesto presents a constitutionalist and economically liberal response to the Congress government. It criticises the use of a parliamentary majority to pursue the 24th and 25th Amendments, warning that these measures would weaken fundamental rights, the rule of law, democracy, freedom of speech, religious and educational freedom, and protection against expropriation. The manifesto also opposes proposed press legislation, state control of imported publications and broadcasting, and what it describes as an attempt to establish a one-party, one-leader rule.

The manifesto attributes inflation, unemployment, economic stagnation, and worsening poverty to excessive state control, public-sector dominance, indiscriminate nationalisation, high taxation, and deficit financing. It advocates a mixed economy in which government concentrates on public utilities, infrastructure, water conservation, natural-resource management, research, and selected basic industries, while private enterprise remains autonomous and central to production. Its programme includes support for small farmers, fair support prices, crop and livestock insurance, collective bargaining without government interference, protection for small traders and artisans, restrained taxation, and administrative reform through honest and competent government. The concluding appeal combines individual self-interest with public service and invokes a Gandhian priority for the rule of Dharma. The document is a typed draft preserved in substantially duplicated versions, with handwritten editorial revisions and annotations.

Key points

• The manifesto defends constitutional rights and the rule of law against the proposed 24th and 25th Amendments.
• It treats press freedom, freedom of speech, and independent mass media as essential safeguards of democracy.
• It blames inflation, unemployment, stagnation, and poverty on unrealistic policies, excessive state control, and public-sector dominance.
• It proposes a mixed economy in which government supplies infrastructure and essential services while private enterprise drives much industrial activity.
• It calls for water conservation, flood and drought mitigation, research, agricultural support, crop insurance, and fair prices for farmers.
• It supports collective bargaining, fair wages, restrained taxation, and protection for small artisans, traders, and self-employed workers.
• It makes clean, impartial, competent, and accountable administration a central political priority.
• It frames the party’s programme as a combination of enlightened individual self-interest and service-oriented government, grounded in a Gandhian rule of Dharma.