[letter from Mr Girish Munshi]

Summary

Dated August 23, 1974, this letter from Girish K. Munshi, General Secretary of the Swatantra Party in Maharashtra, is addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner of India. Munshi explains that although the party’s National Convention had authorised the President, in consultation with the National Executive, to dissolve the party, the Maharashtra State Council had decided that the state unit would continue functioning even if the party were dissolved at the Centre.

The letter asks the Election Commission to recognise the Maharashtra unit’s continued operation and to allow it to retain the party’s electoral symbol, the “Star.” Munshi argues that the symbol belongs to the Maharashtra State Swatantra Party as well as to the party’s units in other states and at national headquarters, and therefore requests that any communication from the national headquarters seeking to freeze the symbol not be entertained insofar as Maharashtra is concerned.

Key points

• The letter reports a National Convention decision authorising the Swatantra Party’s dissolution at the Centre.
• The Maharashtra State Council had independently resolved to continue functioning even if the central party were dissolved.
• Munshi asserts that the Maharashtra unit is entitled to continue using the Swatantra Party’s “Star” electoral symbol.
• The letter asks the Election Commission not to act on any national request to freeze the symbol in Maharashtra.
• The document is signed by Girish K. Munshi as General Secretary.