[Letter to R Sampath]

Summary

This English-language letter, dated August 1, 1989, is from J. Venkiteswaran, President of the Swatantra Party, Maharashtra, to the Election Commission of India. It requests registration of the Maharashtra unit as a state party, while questioning the constitutional validity of the law making political-party registration mandatory. The letter affirms loyalty to the Constitution, secularism, and democracy, and refers to an attached policy statement, constitution, statement of principles, and a 1974 resolution.

The attached resolution records the Maharashtra State Council’s opposition to dissolving the Swatantra Party as part of a proposed merger of seven parties into a new party. It argues that Swatantra was the only national party among those expected to dissolve, that its principles remained valid, and that a new party based on a vague general programme would not provide a durable national alternative. The Council also warns that the continued separate existence of Congress (O) and the Jan Sangh could frustrate the emergence of a two-party system, and resolves to retain the party’s identity, message, and flag if dissolution were approved.

Key points

• The Maharashtra unit of the Swatantra Party seeks registration with the Election Commission of India as a state party.
• The letter questions the constitutional validity of mandatory political-party registration while agreeing to register under the existing law.
• The party reaffirms its loyalty to the Constitution of India and to the principles of secularism and democracy.
• The 1974 Maharashtra State Council resolution rejects dissolving Swatantra as part of a proposed seven-party merger.
• The resolution maintains that Swatantra’s principles and policies remain valid and could have avoided the country’s current critical situation if adopted by the government.
• The resolution criticises the proposed new party’s vague programme and predicts disagreement over its interpretation.
• The Maharashtra unit seeks to preserve its identity, message, and flag even if the national party is dissolved.