Resignation of Masani to be taken up today

Summary

This Times of India report, dated 17 April 1971, says that M. R. Masani’s resignation as president of the Swatantra Party was due to be considered at a party meeting in Bombay. It reports that the party’s general council would also consider holding elections earlier than scheduled, from the primary unit upward, with the possibility that Masani would continue as president until the elections were held.

The article links these developments to the party’s poor showing in recent mid-term polls. Although the Central Parliamentary Board and the national executive made a post-election appraisal, the report says the defeat was regarded as a setback rather than an ideological rejection. It also records plans to reorganise the party, including the appointment of an ad hoc committee under Sardar Bhupinder Singh Mann, and says the general council would consider resolutions on Bangladesh and Ceylon as well as Masani’s report on developments during the preceding months. A message from C. Rajagopalachari is quoted as describing the report as an account of the failure to bring about a coordinated democratic opposition.

Key points

• M. R. Masani’s resignation as president of the Swatantra Party was scheduled for consideration in Bombay.
• The party considered holding organisational elections earlier than planned, beginning at the primary-unit level.
• The report says Masani might remain president until the elections were held.
• The party’s poor mid-term poll performance was described as a setback, not an ideological rejection.
• An ad hoc committee under Sardar Bhupinder Singh Mann was proposed to reorganise the party.
• The general council was expected to discuss Bangladesh, Ceylon, and Masani’s report on recent developments.
• C. Rajagopalachari’s message characterised the report as an account of the failure to create a coordinated democratic opposition.