Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Central Parliamentary Board held at the Vithalbhai Patel Bhavan, New Delhi on February 16, 1969 at 10 a.m.

Summary

These draft minutes record the Swatantra Party Central Parliamentary Board meeting held in New Delhi on February 16, 1969. The Board confirmed the previous minutes, reviewed the Party’s performance in assembly by-elections and mid-term elections, congratulated successful candidates in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, and deferred a fuller assessment of disappointing results until more data and reports were available from state units. It also discussed the conduct and discipline of Party legislators, including proposed expulsion or disciplinary action against members who had resigned or failed to communicate with the Party.

The minutes set out the Board’s position on cooperation with the Jan Sangh: following failed discussions, it reaffirmed that no further negotiations should take place except on limited electoral adjustments and mutual support. The Board also directed Party members not to negotiate without prior approval. In parliamentary business, it decided to oppose proposed legislation replacing the Bonus and Customs Ordinances, while reserving judgment on the Monopolies Bill and supporting provisions to abolish the managing-agency system. It declined to support Communist and S.S.P. no-confidence motions and referred a proposal concerning the extension of Scheduled Caste and Tribe constituency reservations to the National Executive and Party legislators.

Key points

• The Board confirmed the minutes of its November 24, 1968 meeting.
• It reviewed unsuccessful by-election campaigns at Ankleshwar and Nagercoil, focusing on retained support, candidate strategy, and the Party symbol.
• It congratulated successful Swatantra candidates in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab while postponing a full analysis of the Party’s electoral performance.
• It instructed elected legislators to support stable governments in several states, provided those governments excluded the SSP and Communists, and required Central Board approval for coalition invitations.
• It rejected further Jan Sangh negotiations after failed talks, except for narrowly defined electoral adjustments and mutual support.
• It adopted positions on forthcoming parliamentary legislation, including opposition to Bills replacing the Bonus and Customs Ordinances and conditional support for parts of the Company Law Amendment Bill.
• It addressed party discipline, Supreme Court-related election contests, constituency reservations, and the resignation of a Rajasthan legislator.