Swatantra against bloc or front in Parliament

Summary

This Times of India clipping reports that the Swatantra Party decided against forming a parliamentary bloc or front with its alliance partners after the 1971 general election. M. M. Masani is quoted as saying that the idea of a bloc was no longer worth pursuing, while the party’s parliamentary group was instructed to follow Swatantra’s own distinctive approach and policies. The report says the decision applied to the party’s parliamentary group, including members elected with allies such as the Congress (O), Jana Sangh, and SSP.

Key points

• The Swatantra Party rejected forming a bloc or front in Parliament with allied parties.
• The decision was attributed to the party’s Central Parliamentary Board and described as unanimous.
• M. M. Masani said the parliamentary group should pursue Swatantra’s distinctive approach and policies.
• The party’s parliamentary group was being reconstituted, with Mr. Patel replaced by Mr. R. G. Ranga as chairman.
• The report says the decision did not prevent allied members from forming their own party units inside Parliament.
• The clipping also records criticism of the election result, including claims about Congress’s disproportionate representation and the electoral system.