[Swatantra Party Minutes of Meeting]

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party Central Parliamentary Board’s meeting in New Delhi on December 10, 1966, together with an adjourned meeting on December 12. The Board reviewed electoral understandings, parliamentary and assembly nominations, constituency-level disputes, appeals, campaign arrangements, and the division of responsibilities between the central and state party organisations. The record is primarily administrative, documenting decisions rather than presenting a general political programme.

Key points

• The Board reviewed electoral understandings and candidate recommendations from state units.
• In Kerala, it approved an agreement with the Kerala Congress concerning participation in the proposed Jana Congress and nominated parliamentary and assembly candidates.
• In Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Bombay, Andhra, Madras, Mysore, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, it approved, modified, deferred, or rejected candidate nominations.
• The minutes document several appeals against nominations, including appeals in Orissa, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, most of which were rejected.
• The Board authorised party officials and sub-committees to make certain electoral decisions and allocate party symbols.
• The Board discussed campaign films and protested what it regarded as unwarranted use of censorship powers by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
• The adjourned meeting on December 12 continued consideration of Gujarat nomination appeals and candidate disputes.