Letter to Mr Minoo Masani

Summary

In this letter dated 6 June 1963, B. D. Patel thanks Minoo Masani for his earlier letter and credits Masani’s “luck and pluck” from the moment he submitted his nomination. Patel describes the election as a contest fought against heavy odds and celebrates the resulting success.

Patel argues that the Swatantra Party’s performance in Rajkot was especially significant because it challenged the Congress’s hold over rural areas. He contrasts Rajkot with the Congress defeats at Amroha and Farukabad, and suggests that establishing party offices could enable Swatantra to deliver an even more decisive defeat in the Rajkot area.

Key points

• The letter thanks Minoo Masani for correspondence dated 3 June 1963.
• B. D. Patel attributes the electoral success partly to Masani’s determination during the nomination process.
• The contest is described as having been fought against “very heavy odds.”
• Patel says Congress supporters regarded Rajkot as a greater setback than Amroha or Farukabad.
• The Swatantra Party’s challenge to Congress is presented as particularly important in rural areas.
• Patel proposes that organising party offices could produce a further Swatantra victory in Rajkot.