DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF THE SWATANTRA PARTY HELD ON 22nd JANUARY 1975 AT THE RESIDENCE OF SHRI. GIRISH MUNSHI, BOMBAY AT 2.30 P.M.

Summary

These two pages record the draft minutes of the Swatantra Party National Executive meeting held in Bombay on 22 January 1975, chaired by G. K. Sundaram. The meeting reviewed the legality of decisions taken at an earlier meeting, reconstituted the Central Parliamentary Board after alleged constitutional violations, and approved efforts to recruit additional members to the National Executive. It also addressed the party’s financial position, fundraising, organisational rebuilding in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi, and arrangements for operating party bank accounts.

The minutes show the party positioning itself in support of Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement, including an initiative to form an all-party coordination committee in Tamil Nadu to support the movement in Bihar. The Executive also condemned the Election Commission’s freezing of the party’s “STAR” symbol, recording the decision as arbitrary and unacceptable, and adopted resolutions concerning electoral reforms, revision of electoral rolls, food policy, and industrial production. The document closes with a vote of thanks to the chair.

Key points

• The National Executive refused to confirm the minutes of the August 1974 meeting, declaring decisions taken there illegal and void because the meeting was allegedly unconstitutional.
• The Central Parliamentary Board was reconstituted after some members were said to have joined another party.
• The Executive approved efforts to recruit Hanumanta Rao and I. S. Bhargava and directed S. V. Raju to contact them.
• The Tamil Nadu Unit’s legal challenge to the Election Commission’s freezing of the party’s “STAR” symbol was endorsed.
• The meeting addressed party finances, bank-account signatories, organisational tours, and fundraising.
• The Executive reaffirmed support for Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement and approved a Tamil Nadu all-party coordination committee.
• Resolutions were adopted on electoral reforms, revision of electoral rolls, food policy, and industrial production.