[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This untitled Swatantra Party correspondence, dated 21 May 1968, is from Ratibhai Ukabhai Patel, General Secretary of the Rajkot District Swatantra Party Committee, to H. M. Patel, with a copy sent to Minoo Masani. The letter concerns the party’s handling of allegations against Bhagwanjibhai Patel. Ratibhai reports that an office-bearers’ meeting at Vallabh Vidyanagar had favoured avoiding disciplinary action for fear of damaging party unity, but argues that the investigation report should have been circulated to all members before the Executive Committee meeting scheduled for 27 May 1968.

Key points

• The correspondence protests the failure to circulate an investigation-committee report concerning Bhagwanjibhai Patel.
• Ratibhai disputes the view that disciplinary action would necessarily split or weaken the Swatantra Party.
• The letter alleges that Bhagwanjibhai Patel worked against official party candidates in Rajkot during the previous general elections.
• It links the dispute to organisational elections in Junagadh and Rajkot and to later Rajya Sabha election difficulties.
• Ratibhai calls for party discipline, organisational unity, and a full discussion based on the investigation report.
• The writer announces that he will reluctantly remain absent from the forthcoming State Executive meeting because the party had decided not to take disciplinary action.
• Pages 5–8 contain Gujarati-script material presenting a corresponding or related version of the dispute and the appeal for action.