General Secretary's Letter No. 320

Summary

This 20 August 1974 General Secretary’s Letter reports on the Swatantra Party’s National Convention in New Delhi, convened to consider the Party’s dissolution and the proposed formation of a broader “National Alternative.” The General Council welcomed efforts to unite parties but held that the Swatantra Party’s final decision should be made by a National Convention after members had examined the proposal. The letter also records internal procedural decisions: voting would be by show of hands rather than secret ballot, and the Press would be excluded from deliberations on the Party’s organisational affairs.

The letter gives a detailed account of the Convention’s resolutions and voting. A proposal rejecting dissolution was defeated by 53 votes to 406, with one neutral delegate; a resolution for dissolution passed by 407 votes to 53, with one neutral delegate. A state-by-state table records substantial variation in support, including strong support for dissolution from Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, while Delhi and Maharashtra recorded more votes against it. The Convention was attended by 484 delegates, and the document closes by noting that the text of the resolutions was enclosed.

Key points

• The letter reports the Swatantra Party’s August 1974 National Convention and its consideration of Party dissolution.
• The General Council supported exploring a National Alternative but reserved the final decision for a National Convention.
• Members decided that voting on organisational matters would be by show of hands, not secret ballot.
• A resolution rejecting dissolution was defeated 53–406, with one neutral vote.
• A resolution approving dissolution passed 407–53, with one neutral vote.
• The document provides state-wise voting figures and reports attendance of 484 delegates.