NATIONAL EXECUTIVE CIRCULAR NO.9

Summary

This National Executive Circular, issued by the Swatantra Party’s Central Office on 6 May 1966 and signed by General Secretary M. R. Masani, forwards N. Dandekar’s memorandum on proposed disciplinary action against party members in Uttar Pradesh. The memorandum reconstructs a dispute over an electoral understanding with the Jan Sangh for the 1966 biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad. After the Uttar Pradesh unit sought to alter the rotation arrangement, the Central Parliamentary Board instructed party legislators to support Acharya J. B. Kripalani for the Rajya Sabha, abstain from voting for party candidates, and support Jan Sangh candidates for the Vidhan Parishad.

The memorandum then records the Uttar Pradesh legislators’ resistance: the alleged irregular election of Ram Adhar Kanaujia to replace Bhanu Pratap Singh as legislative-party leader, continued support for Ram Gopal Gupta’s Rajya Sabha candidacy, and defiance of Central Board directives. It presents these acts as breaches of party discipline and of constitutional procedure, rejects the legislators’ explanations as disingenuous or casuistical, and recommends expulsion, suspension, debarment, acceptance of resignations, or reprimand for the individuals concerned. The annexures reproduce related letters, Dandekar’s report of his Lucknow meeting, the Central Board’s directives, and N. G. Ranga’s suspension order. The rendered pages therefore document an internal party disciplinary case centered on institutional authority, electoral coordination, and the validity of legislative-party procedures.

Key points

• The circular forwards a memorandum concerning disciplinary action against Swatantra Party members in Uttar Pradesh.
• The dispute began with a proposed change to the Swatantra Party–Jan Sangh electoral understanding for the 1966 biennial elections.
• The Central Parliamentary Board selected Acharya J. B. Kripalani as its preferred Rajya Sabha candidate and directed party members to abstain from voting for party candidates.
• Several Uttar Pradesh legislators supported the alleged irregular replacement of Bhanu Pratap Singh by Ram Adhar Kanaujia as legislative-party leader.
• The memorandum treats continued candidacies, canvassing, and voting contrary to Central Board instructions as breaches of party discipline.
• The memorandum argues that the leadership election was unconstitutional, improper, and invalid because proper notice and procedure were absent.
• The recommended sanctions range from expulsion and permanent debarment to suspension and reprimand.