Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the National Executive held at the National Headquarters of the Party, 143, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bombay 1, on November 12, 1969.

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party National Executive meeting held in Bombay on November 12, 1969. The meeting opened by mourning the death of Sardar Darshan Singh Pheruman, confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting, reviewed absences, and assigned follow-up work on the Mid-Term Report, the Linguistic States Sub-Committee report, and the functions of the Central Parliamentary Board.

The principal political discussion concerned the Party’s parliamentary response to a censure motion against the Government and the Rabat Conference. The Executive directed the Party’s parliamentary group to table or support a no-confidence motion, while stressing discipline if individual members departed from the decision. It also issued guidance on political developments in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, including restrictions on state-level cooperation with other parties without prior consultation. The remaining pages deal with the National Election Tribunal, representation ratios, arrangements for the first meeting of the newly elected General Council, enrolment disputes, disciplinary action against H. A. Riziwi, participation in a national conference on population policy, and opposition to compulsory freight-pool arrangements and other controls on cement distribution.

Key points

• The National Executive met at the Swatantra Party’s Bombay headquarters on November 12, 1969.
• The meeting recorded a tribute to Sardar Darshan Singh Pheruman and confirmed the previous Executive’s minutes.
• The Executive approved action connected with the Mid-Term Report and preparation for the General Council meeting.
• It directed the Party’s parliamentary group to support a no-confidence motion against the Government over the Rabat Conference.
• The Executive set rules for party discipline and consultation in political developments in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
• It constituted a National Election Tribunal and amended the proposed ratio for representation on the General Council.
• It scheduled the newly elected General Council’s first meeting in Madras for December 27–28, 1969.
• It rejected compulsory controls over cement distribution and freight pooling while authorising exploration of voluntary arrangements.