[Swatantra Party Minutes of Meeting]

Summary

This two-page English office record documents a meeting of the Swatantra Party’s Executive Committee in Parliament held on 2 May 1968 at the Party Room, Central Hall, New Delhi. It lists the members present and records administrative decisions concerning the Defection Committee, a proposed Parliamentary session in Bangalore, reported moves by members to form Bhim Sena, committee elections, and party discipline concerning joint memoranda and voting instructions.

The minutes also allocate party speakers for forthcoming parliamentary business, including the Public Provident Fund Bill, state budgets, the Civil Defence Bill, Pondicherry legislation, and a resolution concerning diplomatic recognition of East Germany. The Committee decided to maintain a chart of speakers and advised members to resign from Consultative Committees because the Prime Minister had not accepted the Opposition leaders’ proposals, while allowing participation in railway consultative committees.

Key points

• The Executive Committee met on 2 May 1968 with twelve members present and P. K. Deo as a special invitee.
• A sub-committee was appointed to examine the minutes of the previous Defection Committee meeting and prepare guidelines for the party leader.
• The Committee discussed reported efforts by some members to form Bhim Sena and characterized the move as political rather than social-service oriented.
• Members were to receive clearer instruction on preferential voting after some had voted for parliamentary committees in the wrong order.
• The Committee assigned speakers for several bills, state budgets, and a resolution on diplomatic recognition of East Germany.
• The party decided to continue boycotting most Consultative Committees, while permitting participation in railway consultative committees.