Draft minutes of the 6th Meeting of the National Executive held on Friday and Saturday, 8th and 9th January 1971 at Kalki Building, Chetput, Madras

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party National Executive’s sixth meeting, held in Madras on 8–9 January 1971. The meeting reviewed the postponement of the National Convention, election broadcasts, the political situation in Orissa, and negotiations concerning an electoral alliance with Congress (O), the Jan Sangh, and the SSP. The Executive accepted the need to monitor developments in Orissa, while expressing satisfaction with the Chief Minister’s efforts to test his government’s strength in the Assembly.

The central political discussion concerned the collapse of negotiations for a broader democratic alliance or electoral front before the Lok Sabha elections. The Executive unanimously criticised the abandonment of the proposed arrangement, reaffirmed the Party’s desire for a full-fledged alliance, and decided that the Swatantra Party should join a Front meeting in Delhi on 3 January 1971, provided there was one agreed candidate in each constituency. The final pages turn to the Party’s election manifesto. They authorise Masani, Dandekar, H. M. Patel, and R. C. Cooper to settle its draft in relation to the AICC (O) resolution of 28 June 1970, with proposed themes including employment, prices, production, agricultural support prices, constitutional liberties, good government, rural welfare, minorities, backward areas, infrastructure, and poverty eradication.

Key points

• The National Executive confirmed the minutes of its 8 November 1970 meeting.
• The National Convention was postponed until after the impending General Elections.
• The Executive discussed the feasibility of election broadcasts by political parties and left participation decisions to the individual parties.
• The Orissa government was reviewed, including the Chief Minister’s Cabinet changes and decision to test his strength in the Assembly.
• The Executive expressed disappointment at the breakdown of negotiations for a democratic electoral alliance or Front.
• It resolved that the Swatantra Party should join a Front meeting in Delhi and seek a single agreed candidate for each Lok Sabha constituency.
• The Party’s manifesto was to address civil liberties, law and order, rural development, agricultural prices, infrastructure, poverty, minorities, and backward regions.