Report of the Organisation Sub-Committee

Summary

This two-page report of the Swatantra Party’s Organisation Sub-Committee responds to an appeal by members of the Bihar unit concerning the implementation of the “Munshi Award,” a division of Bihar intended to manage competing organisational claims before the 1962 General Elections. It recounts the Central Organising Committee’s acceptance of K. M. Munshi’s award, subsequent disputes over its implementation, directions issued by the Parliamentary Sub-Committee, and the temporary termination of the arrangement after the elections. The report rejects the Bihar State President’s account of the dispute, arguing that it misrepresented the Party’s democratic character and discipline. It describes the July 1962 joint meeting in Madras, which revoked the authority previously given to the State President, dissolved the interim Working Committee, and referred the matter to the General Council. It also criticises the appeal for having been printed and circulated publicly before the Party’s internal bodies could consider it, and concludes that its allegations amounted to a challenge to the bona fides of senior Party organs and officeholders.

Key points

• The report addresses an appeal from members of the Swatantra Party’s Bihar unit against organisational decisions taken in 1961–62. K. M. Munshi’s award divided Bihar for General Election purposes after disputes within the Bihar unit. The Parliamentary Sub-Committee issued directions when the award was not implemented, and later authorised the General Secretary to deal directly with district presidents on election-related matters. After the 1962 elections, the Organisation Sub-Committee and Parliamentary Sub-Committee terminated the temporary arrangement and authorised the reconstitution of district working committees. A July 1962 joint meeting revoked the authority given to the Bihar State President and dissolved the Working Committee appointed under that authority. The report objects to the public circulation of the appeal before internal Party bodies had considered it.
• It characterises the appeal as an attack on the bona fides of the Central Organising Committee, the Organisation Sub-Committee, the Parliamentary Board, K. M. Munshi, and the General Secretary.