For Favour of Publication

Summary

This one-page Swatantra Party Central Office statement, dated New Delhi, April 20, reports decisions taken by the Party’s Parliamentary and Organisation Sub-Committee at a meeting in Madras on April 18 and 19. The committee reviewed the party’s position in various states, decided to investigate developments in Bastar—especially alleged repression of the Adivasi population—and nominated Shri Harihara Das as president of the Orissa unit. The statement focuses particularly on the Swatantra Party’s response to the ruling party’s decision to force mid-term elections in Orissa. It says that the party would not contest the elections statewide because doing so might prevent effective opposition to the ruling party, while allowing existing Orissa legislators who belonged to the party to stand from their current or other constituencies. It also instructs members of the Orissa unit not to intervene in the elections in a way that would prejudice the Ganatantra Parishad. Although headed “For favour of publication,” the document is marked “Not to be published” and is signed by M. R. Masani as General Secretary.

Key points

• The Parliamentary and Organisation Sub-Committee met in Madras on April 18 and 19 under Professor N. G. Ranga. The committee reviewed the Swatantra Party’s position in several states and made organisational decisions. A representative was to be sent to Bastar to investigate developments and alleged repression of the Adivasi population. Shri Harihara Das was nominated president of the party’s Orissa unit. The party decided not to contest the Orissa mid-term elections statewide, while permitting its sitting legislators to contest selected seats.
• Orissa unit members were instructed not to act in ways that would disadvantage the Ganatantra Parishad.