Swatantra Party

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Swatantra Party (swatantra in means independence in many Indian languages) was a political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in 1959. The party opposed the Nehruvian socialist of the Congress Party outlook by advocating free enterprise, opposing the so-called licence-permit Raj, and ending India's economic autarky by courting Western investment. In 1960 Rajaji and other Swatantra leaders wrote about why Swatantra Party was formed:

1. C. Rajagopalachari : Save freedom. Why Swatantra, 1960

2. Minoo Masani: To provide A Democratic Alternative. Why Swatantra, 1960

3. K.M. Munshi: To Restore Fundamental Rights. Why Swatantra, 1960

4. N.G. Ranga: To Preserve Family Economy. Why Swatantra, 1960

The 21 principles of the Swatantra Party manifesto were the first manifestation of classical liberalism in Indian politics.

Swatantra party became a significant force in some regions of India and became the single largest opposition party in the mid-1960s in the Parliament. However it declined after the death of C. Rajagopalachari. It came to be seen as being associated with wealthy industrialists and former maharajas arising largely from Nehru's propaganda.

Swatantra merged in 1973 with B.K.D. led by Charan Singh an omnibus of left-wing, right-wing, and Hindu nationalist opponents of Congress Party rule.


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