Draft Minutes of the meeting of the Central Parliamentary Board held at 3 p.m. on January 27, 1968 at the Casino Hotel, Cochin.

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party Central Parliamentary Board’s meeting at the Casino Hotel, Cochin, on 27 January 1968. The Board dealt first with internal discipline, accepting S. V. Kashinath’s apology for moving a bill increasing ministers’ and legislators’ salaries in the Mysore Legislative Assembly and deciding to drop the matter. It then reviewed state-level recommendations for biennial Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad elections, extending the deadline for nominations and approving candidates or electoral arrangements in Orissa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and other states. The minutes show the party negotiating reciprocal support with the Jan Sangh while also trying to preserve its independent identity and electoral prospects.

Key points

• The Board accepted S. V. Kashinath’s apology and dropped disciplinary action arising from a salary-increase bill in the Mysore legislature.
• A sub-committee was appointed to examine recommendations from state parliamentary boards for the 1968 Rajya Sabha elections.
• The Board approved or reviewed candidates and alliance arrangements in Orissa, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, including reciprocal support with the Jan Sangh.
• It declined party candidates for the Rajya Sabha in states where voting strength was considered inadequate and made parallel decisions concerning Vidhan Parishad elections.
• The Board reviewed United Front arrangements in Andhra, Bihar, Mysore, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, generally stressing the Swatantra Party’s separate identity.
• The minutes record decisions on Haryana mid-term elections, parliamentary conduct, party subscriptions, state-assembly disagreements, and the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act.
• Resolutions opposed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Bill, presenting them as excessive expansions of bureaucratic and political power.