[Letter to N G Ranga]

Summary

In this letter dated 10 April 1968, Minoo Masani writes to Professor N. G. Ranga from New Delhi to clarify his resignation and absence from forthcoming party meetings. Masani explains that he had already committed to leaving Delhi on 12 April for a Rajkot visit, while stating that he would have reconsidered the trip if attending the meetings served the Swatantra Party’s interests.

Masani rejects the interpretation that his resignation was intended to pressure the National Executive and Central Parliamentary Board into taking a particular position on the Gujarat issue. He asks that his resignation be accepted and that the reasons be reported to the General Council, noting that 101 of its 110 members had been elected to the National Executive. He further argues that the resulting vacancy should be filled by an election at the General Council’s next meeting in Bhubaneswar.

Key points

• Masani confirms that he will not attend the Swatantra Party meetings in Delhi on 13 and 14 April because he is scheduled to leave for Rajkot on 12 April.
• He says his resignation was not intended to pressure the National Executive or Central Parliamentary Board over the Gujarat issue.
• He argues that party decisions should be based on their merits and the party’s abiding interests, rather than being influenced by his actions.
• He asks Ranga to rule out withdrawing the resignation in light of decisions expected that weekend.
• He requests that the resignation and its reasons be reported to the General Council.
• He states that the vacant National Executive position should be filled by election at the General Council meeting in Bhubaneswar at the end of May.