DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY BOARD HELD IN KAIKI BUILDING, MADRAS, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1963, AT 6 P.M.

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party Parliamentary Board meeting held at Kaiki Building, Madras, on 3 August 1963. The document lists the members present, confirms the minutes of the April meeting, and records a report by R. N. Singh Deo concerning his acceptance and subsequent withdrawal from an assignment offered by the Orissa Chief Minister to inquire into corruption allegations against the Deputy Chief Minister of Orissa.

The Board discussed the functioning of the party’s Parliamentary Group, advising that the General Secretary’s election to the Lok Sabha should make him Senior Deputy Leader, with P. K. Deo as Junior Deputy Leader. It also considered Prof. N. G. Ranga’s seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha, the possibility of a parliamentary no-confidence motion, opposition to the Constitution (17th Amendment) Bill, simultaneous candidacies for Panchayat and legislative elections, and approval of a Rs. 30,000 election account contribution for the Himachal Pradesh unit.

Key points

• The minutes concern a Swatantra Party Parliamentary Board meeting held in Madras on 3 August 1963.
• The Board recorded an Orissa political controversy involving R. N. Singh Deo and corruption allegations against the state’s Deputy Chief Minister.
• It advised the Parliamentary Group on the proposed hierarchy of Senior and Junior Deputy Leaders.
• It discussed Prof. N. G. Ranga’s Lok Sabha seating arrangements and authorised him to address the matter.
• It considered the possibility of a parliamentary no-confidence motion and left the decision to the party’s Parliamentary Group.
• It instructed the Parliamentary Group to oppose the Constitution (17th Amendment) Bill and recommended opposition in state assemblies.
• It approved simultaneous membership of Panchayat Samitis or local bodies alongside MLA or MP status and approved a Rs. 30,000 election-account contribution for Himachal Pradesh.