ELECTION MANIFESTO

Summary

This five-page Swatantra Party election manifesto for the March 1972 Assembly elections presents the party as an alternative to Indira Gandhi’s Congress, arguing that the ruling party’s large parliamentary majority has enabled attacks on constitutional rights and democratic institutions. It condemns the proposed constitutional amendments, press controls, centralisation of broadcasting, and the expansion of state power, defending freedom of person, religion, education, association, speech, and property under the rule of law.

The manifesto combines a limited but active conception of government with a strong defence of private initiative. It assigns the state responsibility for public utilities, water conservation, flood and drought prevention, infrastructure, research, agricultural support, and essential heavy industry, while rejecting state domination of trade and manufacturing. Its policy programme calls for incentives to farmers and competitive enterprise, fair wages through collective bargaining, protection for small producers and artisans, moderate taxation, reduced licensing and controls, cleaner administration, Lokpal and Lokayukta institutions, and resistance to indiscriminate nationalisation and public-sector expansion. The concluding statement frames these positions as a constructive programme based on individual self-interest, public service, and a Gandhian moral foundation.

Key points

• The manifesto argues that the Congress majority has facilitated constitutional amendments that threaten fundamental rights, including property rights.
• It defends press freedom, independent mass media, and freedom of speech as essential to democratic government.
• It proposes a mixed economy in which government provides infrastructure and public utilities but acts as a helper and regulator rather than a business participant.
• It criticises statism, inflation, excessive public-sector expansion, nationalisation, licensing, and inefficient state management.
• It advocates agricultural productivity through secure tenancy, fair rents, farm inputs, credit, improved techniques, and remunerative support prices.
• It supports competitive industry, safeguards for labour and consumers, collective bargaining, and the preservation of small and self-employed producers.
• It calls for moderate taxation, honest and impartial administration, fewer controls, and anti-corruption institutions including the Lokpal and Lokayukta.
• It presents the party’s liberal economic and constitutional programme as compatible with social responsibility and Gandhian principles.