[Letter to Madhu Mehta]

Summary

In this two-page letter dated 29 June 1974, Lt. Col. H. R. Pasricha writes to Swatantra Party Vice-President Madhu Mehta about proposed convention representation and the conduct of the party’s leadership. He supports the principle of one delegate per hundred members but insists on a maximum delegation for each state, arguing that an upper limit is necessary to prevent the leadership from manipulating the convention by bringing in disproportionately large numbers from one state. He also challenges the accuracy and fairness of recent accounts of party proceedings, citing the handling of the proposed “Two Party” idea and the reported position of the Gujarat Party’s General Secretary.

Key points

• Pasricha proposes a maximum limit on the number of delegates from each state in addition to proportional representation.
• He accuses the Swatantra Party leadership of suppressing dissent and distorting facts about recent General Council proceedings.
• He argues that forming an opposition coalition with discredited or ideologically incompatible groups would damage public trust.
• He warns that collaboration with “rabid socialists” and communalists could strengthen the Congress rather than create a credible opposition.
• He attributes the party’s decline to self-seeking leadership and a loss of attachment to Swatantra principles.
• He calls for a new leadership committed to rebuilding the party patiently and restoring its standing among the public.