Masani Asks To Relieve Him From His Post

Summary

This single-page clipping sheet reproduces two newspaper reports dated 4 November 1967 concerning M. R. Masani, then General Secretary of the Swatantra Party. The reports say that Masani asked the party’s general council to relieve him of the post, which he had held for seven years, and recommended that N. Dandekar succeed him for the next two years. The council was scheduled to meet in New Delhi on 25 November to elect new office-bearers.

Masani’s stated reason was that it was not good for the country or parliamentary democracy for one person to hold the same government-in-office position for too long. He argued that party office-bearers should do most of the work while members remained passive, and said he would continue serving the party in Parliament and outside it by spreading its principles. The reports also record his assurance that he would remain active in the party, including while Dandekar acted in his place during Masani’s chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee.

Key points

• M. R. Masani sought relief from the Swatantra Party’s general-secretaryship after seven years in the post.
• The party’s general council was to meet in New Delhi on 25 November 1967 to elect office-bearers for the next two years.
• Masani recommended N. Dandekar as the next general secretary.
• He linked his request to the principle that prolonged concentration of office was unhealthy for parliamentary democracy.
• Masani criticised a situation in which office-bearers performed most party work while other members remained passive.
• He said he would continue serving the Swatantra Party in Parliament and outside it by promoting its principles.
• The reports note that Masani was chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and that Dandekar would act in his place for several months.