Party penalises rebel Gujarat Swatantrites

Summary

This Indian Express news report from Madras, dated May 31, 1968, describes disciplinary action by the Swatantra Party against Gujarat members who defied party directives during the Rajya Sabha and general elections. The Central Parliamentary Board decided to expel U. N. Mahida after he contested and won a Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat against the party line, while other members accused of working against Swatantra candidates faced disciplinary measures.

The report says the Board also barred several Gujarat politicians from holding party office for periods of two or three years. It links these actions to internal conflict involving M. R. Masani, whose resignation from the Parliamentary Board and National Executive followed the defeat of an official party candidate. Gujarat affairs were expected to dominate the party’s forthcoming general council meeting.

Key points

• The Swatantra Party’s Central Parliamentary Board decided to expel U. N. Mahida for contesting and winning a Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat against the party directive.
• The Board planned disciplinary action against other Gujarat members accused of working against the party in the general elections.
• One Gujarat politician was barred from holding party office for two years over activities directed against M. R. Masani.
• Three other politicians were reportedly barred from party office for three years after opposing official Swatantra candidates in Rajya Sabha elections.
• The defeat of an official candidate was said to have led to M. R. Masani’s resignation from the Parliamentary Board and the National Executive.
• The report anticipated that Gujarat-related disputes would dominate the next meeting of the party’s general council.