[Letter to Mr Narendra Singh Mahida]

Summary

In this letter dated 19 April 1962, M. R. Masani asks Narendra Singh Mahida to clarify his decision regarding the election of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Masani distinguishes the Parliamentary Board’s commitment to unanimous elections for the President, Vice-President, and Speaker from any decision about Deputy Leaders, which he says was left to the Swatantra Party groups in each House. Because the opposition parties have agreed to support Jaipal Singh, Masani argues that the Swatantra Party should join them rather than act independently.

Key points

• Masani writes to Narendra Singh Mahida on 19 April 1962 about the Deputy Speaker’s election.
• He says the Parliamentary Board committed the party to unanimous elections for the President, Vice-President, and Speaker, but not for Deputy Leaders.
• He reports that the opposition parties have agreed to support Jaipal Singh for Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• Masani considers it imprudent for the Swatantra Party to oppose the other opposition parties on this matter.
• He presents joining the opposition vote as his personal recommendation while leaving the final decision to Mahida and his colleagues.
• He asks Mahida to show the letter and attached telegram to Dayabhai Patel in case a similar misunderstanding arises in the Upper House.
• The letter also refers to arranging a meeting to discuss the Budget on 2 May, before the General Budget begins on 3 May.