Central Parliamentary Board Circular No. 22

Summary

This three-page Swatantra Party circular, dated December 18, 1967, informs party colleagues that its only MLA in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Rajendra Singh Singhi, has accepted Dr. P. C. Ghosh’s invitation to join the West Bengal cabinet as a Minister of State. N. Dandekar recounts that Singhi had previously resisted pressure from both the United Front government and the Congress Party, but accepted the offer after discussions in Calcutta on December 2–3. The circular argues that the party should accept the decision in practice, despite having preferred President’s Rule, because cooperation with the minority government may prevent the return of the communist-dominated United Front government.

Key points

• The circular announces Rajendra Singh Singhi’s decision to join Dr. P. C. Ghosh’s West Bengal cabinet.
• Dandekar states that Singhi had resisted pressure from both the United Front government and the Congress Party.
• The decision followed Singhi’s discussions with C. R. Irani and Dr. P. C. Ghosh in Calcutta.
• The circular presents Singhi’s ministerial appointment as politically significant because he was the Swatantra Party’s lone legislator in West Bengal.
• Although the party would have preferred President’s Rule, it should not oppose the minority government under the circumstances described.
• The enclosed resolution calls for banning both communist parties and removing communist ministers from the West Bengal government.
• The document closes by seeking the recipient’s approval of the party’s position.