General Secretary's Letter No. 320

Summary

Dated August 20, 1974, this General Secretary’s letter reports on the Swatantra Party’s Seventh National Convention, held in New Delhi on August 4–5 to decide whether the party should dissolve. It reproduces the General Council’s earlier endorsement of a “National Alternative” and explains the procedural background to the convention, including circulation of a draft programme, press access to deliberations, and the decision to vote by a show of hands rather than secret ballot.

The convention considered competing resolutions: one rejecting dissolution and another supporting it. The anti-dissolution resolution received 53 votes, while the dissolution resolution received 407, with one neutral delegate. A state-wise table records the voting pattern and identifies Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu as significant components of the convention. The enclosed resolutions argue that the Swatantra Party’s principles remain valid but ultimately approve its merger into the proposed Bharatiya Lok Dal, excluding the Ruling Congress and Communist parties. The pages also state that members unwilling to join the new party could continue non-partisan activities under another name.

Key points

• The letter documents the Swatantra Party’s Seventh National Convention in New Delhi on August 4–5, 1974.
• The convention was called to decide the party’s future amid efforts to create a National Alternative.
• The proposal to reject dissolution was defeated by 53 votes to 407, with one neutral vote.
• The state-wise voting table shows especially strong support for dissolution from Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra.
• The convention’s adopted resolution approved the formation of the Bharatiya Lok Dal by amalgamating political forces other than the Ruling Congress and Communist parties.
• The resolution authorised President Piloo Mody to notify the Election Commission of the party’s dissolution and request that its symbol be frozen.
• The enclosed anti-dissolution resolution argued that the Swatantra Party’s principles remained valid and that a two-party system would not yet be achieved.