Swatantra To Adopt AICC (O) Resolution As Manifesto

Summary

This Statesman report from Madras describes the Swatantra Party’s preparations to join the Congress (O)-led Front and to contest the coming Lok Sabha election. M. R. Masani says the Front’s co-ordinating committee will begin work in Delhi on January 15 to settle seat adjustments among its four constituents; N. Dandekar and Dr R. C. Cooper are identified as the Swatantra Party’s representatives.

Key points

• The Congress (O)-led Front’s co-ordinating committee was scheduled to begin functioning in Delhi on January 15.
• The committee was expected to finalise seat adjustments among four constituent parties.
• M. R. Masani said candidate selection would depend on removing clashes between competing names.
• Masani rejected the idea that the Swatantra Party was primarily concerned with the number of seats it could win.
• He described the party’s immediate aims as denying a majority to the Prime Minister’s party, maximising the Opposition vote, and defending the Constitution.
• The Swatantra Party’s executive decided to adopt the AICC (O) resolution of June 28 as the party’s election manifesto, subject to recommendations from state units.