National Headquarter's Circular No.160

Summary

This two-page English office circular, issued by the Swatantra Party National Headquarters in Bombay in September 1974, records two resolutions adopted at a National Executive meeting in New Delhi in August 1974. The first authorizes party president Piloo Mody to declare the Swatantra Party’s merger with the Bharatiya Lok Dal (People’s Party of India), following the completion of the constituent parties’ formalities and the decision of the party’s Seventh National Convention. It also transfers the Swatantra Party’s rights, assets, and liabilities to the Bharatiya Lok Dal.

The second resolution addresses members who continued to operate under the Swatantra Party name contrary to the Seventh National Convention’s decision. It asserts that there is only one Swatantra Party, that the party had decided at its National Convention on 5 August to merge into the Bharatiya Lok Dal, and that after the merger no person or group could claim the party’s name or rights. The circular is signed by V. P. Bhatia as Executive Secretary and is primarily concerned with institutional identity, authority, and the legal consequences of the merger.

Key points

• The circular transmits two resolutions adopted by the Swatantra Party National Executive.
• The first resolution authorizes Piloo Mody to announce the Swatantra Party’s merger with the Bharatiya Lok Dal on 29 August 1974.
• The merger is presented as following the completion of formalities by the parties forming the Bharatiya Lok Dal.
• The Swatantra Party’s rights, assets, and liabilities are to become those of the Bharatiya Lok Dal.
• The second resolution rejects the legitimacy of members continuing to function under the Swatantra Party name.
• The National Executive asserts that only one Swatantra Party existed and that its convention had decided on the merger.