[Press Release]

Summary

This three-page English-language document, dated Bhubaneswar on 30 December 1966, consists of a press release and an accompanying electoral-adjustment agreement between the Orissa Swatantra Party and the Orissa Jana Congress. It announces that differences over electoral arrangements have been resolved and that the two parties will form a coalition intended to remove the Congress Party from power in Orissa. The press release presents the alliance as offering voters a clear non-Congress alternative in the 1967 General Election.

The agreement condemns the Congress administration’s alleged corruption, nepotism, wasteful expenditure, and disregard for moral values. It establishes non-contest arrangements in specified constituencies, leaves other constituencies open to either party, and commits both parties to a common programme. The supplementary points specify reciprocal support for candidates, joint appeals to voters, and Swatantra Party concessions in the Hindol and Boudh-Daspalla Assembly constituencies on the condition that Dr. H. K. Mahtab withdraw from those contests.

Key points

• The Orissa Swatantra Party and Orissa Jana Congress announce resolution of their electoral differences.
• The parties agree to form a Swatantra-led coalition in Orissa.
• The alliance is presented as a non-Congress alternative for the 1967 General Election.
• The agreement criticises the Congress administration for corruption, nepotism, wasteful expenditure, and disregard for moral values.
• Specified constituencies will have no mutual contest, while unlisted constituencies remain open to candidates from either party.
• The parties undertake to issue a common programme and not support the Congress Party in opposition or government.
• The supplementary agreement provides reciprocal candidate support and identifies concessions involving the Hindol and Boudh-Daspalla constituencies.