Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Central Parliamentary Board held in Bombay on April 16, 1971.

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party Central Parliamentary Board meeting held in Bombay on April 16, 1971. The Board confirmed the previous minutes, addressed liabilities connected with the Party’s Parliamentary Office in New Delhi, and reviewed political developments in Orissa and Gujarat. In Orissa, it noted the State Party Unit and Legislative Group’s decision to form a coalition with the Utkal Congress and the Jharkhand Party, with Mr. Singh Deo as Chief Minister, rather than remain in opposition ahead of the possible reimposition of President’s Rule.

The Gujarat discussion concerns factional divisions, defections, and the Party’s support for a government led by Hitendra Desai. The Board agreed that readmission of one or two defectors could restore the Party’s Assembly recognition, while excluding other defectors. It also noted forthcoming Orissa by-elections and reviewed the Party’s reduced speaking time and performance in the recently concluded parliamentary session. The annexure reproduces the Common Programme of the Orissa United Front, which combines industrialisation, irrigation, land reform, rural electrification, support for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, labour protections, education, health facilities, decentralisation, and farmer-oriented agricultural development.

Key points

• The Board confirmed the minutes of its March 20, 1971 meeting.
• It authorised payment of the remaining Rs. 1,500 in Parliamentary Office liabilities and rejected further commitments by National Headquarters.
• It noted the Orissa coalition of the Swatantra Party, Utkal Congress, and Jharkhand Party, supported by a Common Minimum Programme.
• It discussed Gujarat’s political defections, the fall of the Hitendra Desai Ministry, and the Party’s subsequent unconditional support for a new Desai government.
• The Board allowed the possible readmission of one or two Gujarat defectors to restore Assembly recognition, but ruled out readmitting other defectors.
• It noted proposed Orissa by-election contests and a possible Andhra consultation concerning the Koraput constituency.
• The annexed Orissa programme proposes state-led development alongside land reform, farmer-focused administration, rural infrastructure, employment, education, and welfare measures.