Masani sticks to his stand

Summary

This one-page Indian Express report describes the Swatantra Party general council meeting held in Madras on 3 June 1968. Prof. Ruthnaswamy presided in the absence of Mr. Ranga. The council discussed the circumstances leading to Minoo Masani’s resignation from the party’s national executive and Central Parliamentary Board, after his defeat in the party’s official candidature for the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.

Key points

• The Swatantra Party general council met in Madras on 3 June 1968.
• The meeting was presided over by Prof. Ruthnaswamy in the absence of Mr. Ranga.
• A resolution praised Masani’s service and referred to the harm caused to the party by his defeat as its official Rajya Sabha candidate from Gujarat.
• The council’s first resolution asked the national executive to create conditions for Masani to accept membership again.
• A second resolution proposed a committee to investigate allegations concerning the party leadership in Gujarat.
• The report says disciplinary action had been taken against C. C. Desai for allegedly admitting that he had worked against the official candidate.
• The general secretary proposed that Masani be re-elected to the national executive; Masani said he would continue working for the party both inside and outside Parliament.