[Letter to Mr Minoo Masani]

Summary

This 13 March 1968 confidential letter from Ratibhai Patel to Minoo Masani reports dissent within the Gujarat Swatantra Party over the proposed candidacy of Babubhai Vaidya for the Rajya Sabha. Patel argues that an earlier commitment by the party leadership to support Vaidya should be honoured, despite objections that Vaidya had criticised the party, opposed Dr. Antani in the 1966 Rajya Sabha election, and was not formally a Swatantra Party member. The letter describes competing names, lobbying among Gujarat MLAs, and concern that the Central Party and Gujarat Party might adopt conflicting positions.

Key points

• The Gujarat State Executive debated Babubhai Vaidya’s candidacy for the Rajya Sabha on behalf of the Swatantra Party.
• Opponents cited Vaidya’s alleged criticism of the party and his opposition to Dr. Antani in the 1966 election.
• Patel maintains that an earlier commitment by the party’s General Secretary and Central Parliamentary Board should be honoured.
• H. M. Patel urged the State Executive to carry out the commitment, while other members proposed Minoo Mahida and Professor Shenoy.
• The letter reports rival efforts to collect MLA signatures for and against Vaidya’s candidacy.
• Patel warns that Congress and Jan Sangh are exploiting the dispute and stresses party discipline.
• Patel also criticises the Central Party’s handling of the Kutch Award, arguing that its position is harming support in Kutch and Saurashtra.