[Letter to Mr V S Srikumar]

Summary

In this untitled letter dated May 20, 1975, S. V. Raju reports on discussions in Ahmedabad about the forthcoming Gujarat elections. Citing Prof. K. D. Desai’s assessment, he predicts that neither the Janata group nor the ruling Congress will secure an overwhelming majority, while Chimanlal Patel’s party may hold the balance. He also expects the Assembly to be short-lived, lasting no more than six months.

Key points

• The letter concerns the political outlook for the forthcoming Gujarat elections.
• Prof. K. D. Desai reportedly expected neither the Janata group nor the ruling Congress to win an overwhelming majority.
• Raju viewed Chimanlal Patel’s party as a likely balance-holding force in the Assembly.
• The manifesto and policies of Chimanlal Patel’s KMLP were described as closest to Swatantra Party policies.
• Raju linked the movement of Swatantra members into the KMLP to this policy proximity.
• The BLD was described as weak in Gujarat, with Piloo Mody identified as its principal serious supporter there.
• Raju believed reviving the Swatantra Party in Gujarat would be extremely difficult unless former members in the KMLP and Congress(O) could be brought back.
• He concluded that the party would have to wait until after the elections to assess the Assembly’s composition.