DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CENTRAL PARLIAMENTARY BOARD HELD IN MADRAS ON JULY 22 AND 23, 1966.

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party Central Parliamentary Board’s meeting in Madras on 22–23 July 1966. The Board reviewed prospective parliamentary and assembly candidates across several states, including proposed changes in Anand, the withdrawal of a candidature in Junagadh, and arrangements involving Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and other constituencies. It also considered campaign organisation, candidate fundraising, Rajaji’s appeal for qualified candidates, and the party’s preparations for the 1967 general elections.

Key points

• The Board approved, modified, or deferred prospective candidate recommendations in Mysore, Madras, Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• It opposed the Anti-Secession Ordinance Bill, the Essential Commodities Ordinance, and measures infringing individual liberty under the Preventive Detention Act.
• A resolution on Vietnam warned against the withdrawal of U.S. forces and opposed the Government of India’s international position on the conflict.
• The Board attributed devaluation and economic collapse to the Union Government’s economic policies and called for reduced expenditure, lower taxation, restricted government borrowing, and dismantling of permits, quotas, licences, and controls.
• It opposed the use of no-confidence motions where defeat would produce only an indirect vote of confidence in the government, while permitting members to abstain after stating the party’s position.
• The Board discussed electoral adjustments and relations with the Jan Sangh, Jana Congress, Janatha Paksha, Kerala Congress, DMK, and other opposition groups.
• The minutes also record support for free elections, restrictions on election collections by ministers, concern over administrative breakdown and popular discontent in Uttar Pradesh, and an appeal for Sardar Darshan Singh Pheruman to end his hunger strike.