Disciplinary Action Against Mr. Bhagwanjibhai Patel

Summary

This one-page extract from the Swatantra Party’s National Executive minutes records disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Bhagwanjibhai Patel. The Gujarat State Executive Committee had recommended no disciplinary action, stating that there was no direct evidence that Patel had worked against Minoo Masani’s candidacy or the Party’s interests, though it proposed informing him that the Party disapproved of his privately expressed opposition to Masani. A communication from Ratibhai Ukabhai Patel instead called for Bhagwanjibhai Patel’s expulsion.

After discussing the matter, the National Executive concluded that Patel had acted against the Party’s candidate in the Rajkot Parliamentary Constituency. It held that the fact that the conduct may have occurred privately rather than publicly was immaterial, and decided to debar him from holding any Party office for two years with immediate effect. B. P. Singh recorded a dissent, arguing that the proposed action was inadequate and that Patel should be expelled.

Key points

• The Gujarat State Executive Committee recommended that no disciplinary action be taken against Bhagwanjibhai Patel.
• The Gujarat recommendation acknowledged Patel’s private opposition to Minoo Masani while finding no direct evidence that he had worked against Masani’s candidacy or the Party’s interests.
• Ratibhai Ukabhai Patel opposed the recommendation and demanded Bhagwanjibhai Patel’s expulsion.
• The National Executive concluded that Bhagwanjibhai Patel had acted against the Party’s candidate in the Rajkot Parliamentary Constituency.
• The National Executive held that private rather than public conduct was immaterial to the disciplinary decision.
• Patel was debarred from holding any Party office for two years, effective immediately.
• B. P. Singh dissented, arguing that Patel should be expelled.