Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Swatantra Party, Bombay Region, on Monday, the 13th November 1972 at 6.30 P.M.

Summary

These minutes record the Swatantra Party Bombay Region Executive Committee meeting held on 13 November 1972. With the President and Vice-Presidents absent, Shantilal L. Thar chaired the meeting. The committee noted poor attendance, a precarious financial position, difficulty recruiting members, and the Party’s limited public impact. It urged stronger efforts to mobilise opposition to rising prices and to launch a movement or agitation against government policy.

Key points

• The committee discussed weak attendance and proposed that the President write to members who had not been attending meetings.
• The Party’s finances were described as being in a precarious state, while earlier plans to solicit funds had made no progress.
• Members attributed difficulty in recruiting new members to the Party’s inability to project its image and focus public attention on rising prices.
• The committee considered organising taxi drivers around grievances concerning maintenance costs, spare parts, and fuel, and noted the need to engage more seriously with trade-union activity.
• It proposed opposing increases in State Transport fares through a programme that might include legal action.
• The committee criticised proposed increases in municipal water tax and sought clarification regarding a passenger tax on BEST commuters.
• The meeting also addressed Rajaji’s 94th birthday, forthcoming municipal elections, a Rs. 200 staff advance, and three resignations that were accepted with regret.