Swatantra thwarts alliance bid

Summary

This Hindustan Times report, datelined Ahmedabad, 5 January 1971, describes the collapse of an attempted electoral alliance involving the Swatantra Party. Morarji Desai reportedly left alliance negotiations after concluding that the proposed arrangement had been undermined by Minoo Masani’s walk-out from the Congress (O) leadership meeting. Congress (O) figures acknowledged that Masani’s departure had unsettled negotiations and revived earlier anti-alliance sentiment among Gujarat Congress leaders.

Key points

• The proposed Swatantra–Congress (O) alliance in Gujarat was thwarted after Minoo Masani walked out of a Congress (O) meeting.
• Morarji Desai told newsmen that he felt hopeless about a settlement with the Swatantra Party before leaving.
• Congress (O) leaders reportedly feared that the alliance would benefit Swatantra candidates and weaken Congress prospects.
• The report says Congress (O) and state leadership had been seeking to persuade anti-Swatantra elements to compromise.
• The proposed arrangement involved seat adjustments, including six or seven seats in the Rajkot constituency.
• The article identifies Piloo Mody and other Congress (O) leaders as attempting to resume negotiations with Masani.
• Desai rejected the proposed electoral alliance’s foreign-policy basis and expressed distrust of its proponents.