"Toppling—An Indecent Act"

Summary

This one-page Swatantra Party paper records the National Executive’s decision, taken on April 11, 1970, not to support the S.S.P.’s proposal for a united opposition programme aimed at dislodging Indira Gandhi’s government. The S.S.P. General Secretary, George Fernandes, had proposed talks around the S.S.P.’s 17-point programme. The Swatantra Party rejected several points in that programme, while keeping open the possibility of bilateral discussions.

The paper explains the party’s distinction between replacing a government through an agreed alternative programme and “toppling” it without a policy basis or a credible successor. Minoo Masani describes toppling as an “indecent act” arising from inadequate political development, and identifies the failed attempt to topple the Swatantra-led government in Orissa as an example. The paper instead presents the Orissa coalition government formed after the 1967 elections as a model of electoral cooperation based on a common minimum programme.

Key points

• The Swatantra Party National Executive declined the S.S.P.’s proposal for a common opposition programme.
• The decision followed consideration of the S.S.P.’s 17-point programme and rejection of several of its provisions.
• The paper distinguishes legitimate democratic replacement of a government from opportunistic “toppling.”
• Minoo Masani defines toppling as an attempt lacking a policy issue, a ready alternative government, or an agreed programme.
• The paper criticises efforts to dislodge the Indira Gandhi government without an agreed alternative.
• The Swatantra Party continued to favour bilateral dialogue with the S.S.P.
• The coalition government in Orissa is presented as a successful example of cooperation based on a common minimum programme.