Constitution

Social Democratic Party of India

8/2 first floor, Jangpura extn, Hospital Road, Bhogal, New Delhi 110014

Tel: 01132531314,09953134668,sdpofindia@gmail.com

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PARTY CONSTITUTION

Article 1

Name

Social Democratic Party of India

Article 2

Allegiance to the Constitution of India

Social Democratic Party of India shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and to those principles of socialism, secularism and democracy and would uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

Article 3

Aims and Objectives

Social Democratic Party of India shall stand for the realization of a social order and political system based on the great ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the Indian Constitution. It shall mobilise the people to enjoy civil rights through democratic struggles including elections.

Social Democratic Party of India shall strive for the establishment of governance in the Union and the States, capable of fulfilling equal rights to all citizens and all classes in India. It aims to unite all depressed classes in a national political movement.

Social Democratic Party of India upholds a political ideology founded on the following principles:

National integration, communal amity and social harmony
Democratization of society and politics
Rule of law and Human Rights
Freedom from fear and hunger
Eco-friendly and non-destructive development model
Welfare and progress of the weaker sections
Security and dignity of the marginalized classes
Cultural identity of the tribal, the dalits and the minorities
Empowerment of minorities and backward castes
Unity and solidarity among the depressed communities

Article 4

Membership

Social Democratic Party of India shall have a two-tier membership pattern: Party Cadre and Party Member.

Party Cadre

Any citizen of India, eighteen years of age or above who abides by the constitution and discipline of the Party and agrees to work in the Party may be enrolled as a Cadre. Any person irrespective of religion, caste, creed and sex is eligible to be enrolled as a Cadre provided he or she acts as per the norms and conditions stipulated by the Party and carries out the decisions of the Party from time to time.

Party Cadres are admitted on the basis of the application submitted to and approved by the authorized representative of the Party President. The application has to be recommended by two Party Cadres.

If the applicant is admitted to the Party, he or she shall take the prescribed pledge before the authorized representative of the Party President and remit the annual subscription.

Each Party Cadre has to renew his membership every year during the period prescribed for the same by remitting the annual subscription fee.

Party Member

Any citizen of India, eighteen years of age or above who is willing to associate with the Party will be a Party Member. Any person irrespective of religion, caste, creed and sex may be admitted as a Party Member. A Member has no right to elect office bearers or to be elected as office bearers, or to vote on any motion or resolution.

Article 5

Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of the Party is Indian Union.

Article 6

Pledge

I accept the aims and objectives of the social Democratic Party of India. I am ready to work for the fulfillment of civil rights and social justice to all citizens of India. I shall abide by the constitution and discipline of the Party. I hereby pledge that I shall give priority to the interests of the people and shall keep away from personal vices and social evils.

Article 7

Records

The party shall have the following records to be maintained by the Branch Committee.

1. Party Constitution

2. Register of Cadres.

3. Minute of the Branch Committee meetings.

4. Accounts of the Branch Committee.

All other higher committees in the hierarchy up to the National Working Committee have to maintain the following records:

1. Party Constitution

2. Minute of the respective Committee meetings.

3. Accounts of the respective Committee.

Article 8

Structure

National Working Committee

The National Working Committee is the ultimate decision making body of the Party. It has powers to veto any decision of the lower bodies including the National Secretariat.

The National Working Committee is constituted by minimum 15 and not more than 51 members elected by the National Representative Council for a period of two years. The State Presidents shall be ex-officio members, if they are not elected members. However the ex-officio members shall not have voting rights. In addition the National Working committee may nominate members to the committee provided the total number of nominated members does not exceed 1/3 of existing elected members. National Working Committee shall be convened at least once in every four months. If demanded by two third members, it shall be convened within a month of such a notice. The following shall be the main functions of National Working Committee:

To discuss and decide on the policy of the Party.

To amend the Party constitution and formulate the party programme.

To supervise Party administration and finances.

To elect the National Secretariat.

National Secretariat

The National Secretariat is constituted by minimum 5 and not more than 15 members including President and General Secretary in charge of Headquarters administration, to be elected by the National Working Committee from among its members. The National Secretariat is the sub-committee of the National Working Committee appointed for the running of the routine affairs of the Party. The National Secretariat has to meet at least once in two months.

National Representative Council

National Representative Council is constituted by the elected members of the State Working Committees excluding the ex-officio and nominated members and councilors elected as per the ratio of the Party Cadres prescribed from time to time for a period of two years. The State Representative Councils have to elect councilors to the National Representative Council. The National Representative Council has to meet once in two years. It will make an annual review of the situation in the Nation and the Party. National Working Committee has to submit the annual report of the Party activities to the National Representative Council for discussion and suggestions. It has power to veto any amendments to the Party Constitution with two third majority of the members present and voting.

4. State Working Committees

The State Working Committee is constituted by minimum 9 and not more than 33 members elected by the State Representative Council for a period of two years. The District Presidents shall be ex-officio members, if they are not elected members. However the ex-officio members shall not have voting rights. In addition the State Working committee may nominate members to the committee provided the total number of nominated members does not exceed 1/3 of the existing elected members. The state level decision making body of the Party shall be the State Working Committee. State Working Committee shall be convened once every four months. If demanded by two third members, it shall be convened within 15 days of such a notice. The State Working Committee has power to veto any decision of the State Secretariat.

5. State Secretariats

The State Secretariat is constituted by minimum 5 and not more than 9 members including President and General Secretary in charge of State Office administration, elected by the State Working Committee from among its members. The State Secretariat is the sub-committee of the State Working Committee appointed for the running of the routine affairs of the Party. The State Secretariat has to meet at least once in two months.

State Representative Councils

State Representative Council is constituted by the elected members of the District Working Committees excluding the ex-officio and nominated members and councilors elected as per the ratio of the Party Cadres prescribed from time to time for a period of two years. The District Representative Councils have to elect councilors to the State Representative Council. The State Representative Council has to meet once in a year. It will make an annual review of the situation in the State and the Party. State Working Committee has to submit the annual report of the Party activities to the State Representative Council for discussion and suggestions.

District working Committees

The District Working Committee is constituted by minimum 7 and not more than 21 members elected by the District Representative Council for a period of two years. The Constituency Committee Presidents shall be ex-officio members, if they are not elected members. However the ex-officio members shall not have voting rights. In addition, the District Working Committee shall nominate members to the committee provided the total number of nominated members does not exceed 1/3 of the existing elected members’. The district level decision making body of the Party shall be the District Working Committee. District Working Committee shall be convened once every two months. If demanded by two third members, it shall be convened within 15 days of such a notice. The District Working Committee has powers to veto any decision of the District Secretariat.

District Secretariats

The District Secretariat is constituted by 5 members including President and Secretary, elected by the District Working Committee from among its members. The District Secretariat is the sub-committee of the District Working Committee appointed for the running of the routine affairs of the Party. The District Secretariat has to meet at least once in a month.

District Representative Councils

District General Council is constituted by the elected members of the Constituency Committees excluding the ex-officio and nominated members and councilors elected as per the ratio of the Party Cadres prescribed from time to time for a period of two years. The Constituency Councils have to elect councilors to the District Representative Council. In the absence of constituency level structure in any District, it is constituted by the elected members of the immediate lower structure in the hierarchy. The District Representative Council has to meet once in six months. It will make a review of the Party situation in the district.

Constituency Committees

The Constituency Committee is constituted by minimum 7 and not more than 21 members elected by the Constituency Council for a period of two years. The Panchayat/ Municipal/City Committees Presidents shall be ex-officio members, if they are not elected members. However the ex-officio members shall not have voting rights.

Constituency Councils

Constituency Council is constituted by the elected members of Panchayat/ Municipal/City Committees excluding the ex-officio and nominated members and councilors elected as per the ratio of the Party Cadres prescribed from time to time for a period of two years. The Panchayat / Municipal / City Councils have to elect councilors to the Constituency Council. In the absence of Panchayat/ Municipal/City level structure in any District, it is constituted by the elected members of the immediate lower structure in the hierarchy. The Constituency Council has to meet once in six months. It will make a review of the Party situation in the constituency.

Panchayat / Municipal / City Committees

The Panchayat/ Municipal/City Committee is constituted by minimum 5 and not more than 17 members elected by the Panchayat/ Municipal/City councils for a period of two years. The Branch Committee Presidents and Secretaries shall be ex-officio members, if they are not elected members. However the ex-officio members shall not have voting rights.

13. Panchayat / Municipal / City Councils

Panchayat / Municipal / City Council is constituted by the elected members of Branch Committees excluding the ex-officio and nominated members and councilors elected as per the ratio of the Party Cadres prescribed from time to time for a period of two years. The Party Cadres in each Branch under the jurisdiction of the respective Panchayat / Municipal / City Council have to elect councilors to the Constituency Council. In the absence of Panchayat / Municipal / City level structure in any District, it is constituted by the elected members of the immediate lower structure in the hierarchy. The Panchayat/Municipal/City Council has to meet once in six months. It will make a review of the Party situation in the constituency.

14. Branch Committees

The Branch Committee is constituted by Office Bearers elected by the Party Cadres in the Branch for a period of two years.

Branch

The Party Cadres not less than 5 and not more than 25 shall constitute a Party Branch. All Party Members in the same jurisdiction shall be part of the respective Branch.

Number of elected members of working committees at every level shall be fixed by the next upper committee within the limit prescribed in the constitution for each term. But National Working Committee itself will fix the number of members to be elected to the National Working Committee.

Article 9

Office Bearers

The Party Office Bearers at all levels except Branches shall be elected by the Working Committee or Committee members at the respective level. Office Bearers of Branches shall be elected by the cadres of the respective Branch. Secrete ballot method shall be adopted for election in all level.

1. National level

The National Working Committee shall elect the following office bearers:

1. National President

2. National Vice Presidents (not more than 3)

3. National General Secretaries (not more than 5)

National Secretaries (not more than 10)
National Treasurer

2. State level

The State Working Committee shall elect the following office bearers:

1. State President

2. State Vice Presidents (not more than 3)

3. State General Secretaries (not more than 3)

4. State Secretaries (not more than 6)

5. State Treasurer

3. District level

The District Committee shall elect the following office bearers:

1. District President

2. District Vice Presidents (not more than 3)

3. District General Secretary

4. District Secretaries (not more than 6)

5. District Treasurer

4. Constituency level

The Constituency Committee shall elect the following office bearers:

1. Constituency President

2. Constituency Vice Presidents (not more than 2)

3. Constituency Secretary

4. Constituency Joint Secretaries (not more than 3)

5. Constituency Treasurer

5. Panchayat / Municipal /City level

The Panchayat / Municipal /City Committee shall elect the following office bearers:

1. Panchayat / Municipal / City President

2. Panchayat / Municipal / City Vice Presidents (not more than 2)

3. Panchayat / Municipal / City Secretary

4. Panchayat / Municipal / City Joint Secretaries (not more than 3)

5. Panchayat / Municipal / City Treasurer

6. Branch level

The Branch Committee shall elect the following office bearers:

1. Branch President

2. Brach Vice President

3. Branch Secretary

4. Branch Joint Secretaries (not more than 3)

5. Branch Treasurer

However in the case of a Branch with minimum number of cadres, there shall be only 3 Office Bearers; i.e. President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Article 10

Powers and Duties of Office Bearers:

President

1. The President at all levels in the structural hierarchy shall supervise the activities of the party.
2. He shall have the responsibility for the growth and development of the Party under his jurisdiction.

Vice President

The Vice President at all levels in the structural hierarchy shall assist the President and undertake the responsibilities delegated to him by the President.
In case of absence of the President from the routine functions, the President can appoint a Vice President as in-charge.

General Secretary

The General Secretary at all levels shall look after the general administration of the Party under the supervision of the President.
In case there is more than one General Secretary, the concerned Working Committee can decide about the work distribution among them.

Secretaries

The Secretary shall assist the General Secretary.
In case there is no provision for General Secretary at a particular level, the Secretary shall assume the powers and duties of the General Secretary.
In case there is more than one Secretary, the concerned Working Committee can decide about the work distribution among them.

Joint Secretaries

1) The Joint Secretary shall assist the Secretary.

2) In case there is more than one Joint Secretary, the concerned Committee can decide about the work distribution among them.

Treasurer

The Treasurer at all levels in the structural hierarchy shall manage the income, expenditure and accounting of the Party under the supervision of the General Secretary or Secretary, in case there is no provision for General Secretary.

Article 11

Quorum of Meetings

The quorum of meetings of all Committees and Councils shall be 50% of the total members of the respective Committee or Council. In case a meeting of the Committee or Council is not held due to the lack of quorum, there will be no need of quorum for the next meeting of the respective Committee or Council.

Article 12

Party Funds

The source of income of the party will be the following:

1) Subscription from Party Cadres and Party Members

2) Donations from general public

All party funds collected at any level other than national has to be remitted to the State Working Committee. Each State Working Committee has to remit a prescribed percentage of their annual income to the National Working Committee.

The Party accounts at all levels below national must be audited every year by the auditors appointed by the immediate higher Committee in the structural hierarchy. The National level accounts must be audited by the auditors appointed by the National Representative Council.

Article 13

Party Discipline

The Party Cadres shall uphold ethical values and refrain from all kinds of vices. In case a Party Cadre is charged with serious violation of party discipline, the State President may take appropriate disciplinary action including suspension based on the report from the subordinate Committee. A Party Cadre can be suspended by the President below the level of State for a period of three months and before of the expiry of this period the matter has to be finally decided by the State President. If the Party Cadre is member of state Working Committee or National Working Committee, the matter has to be finally decided by the National Working Committee.

A Party Member can be suspended by the President below the level of District for a period of three months and before the expiry of this period the matter has to be finally decided by the District President.

The resignation of a Party Cadre who is not an Office Bearer has to be submitted to the Branch President and the final decision has to be taken by the District President. If the Party Cadre is a member of a Committee above the level of Branch and below the level of State, his or her resignation as a cadre or office bearer has to be submitted to the President of the respective Committee and the matter has to be finally decided by the District President. If the Cadre is a member of State Working Committee or National Working Committee, the resignation has to be submitted to the respective President and the matter has to be finally decided by the respective Committee.

The right to suspend freeze or dissolve a Committee\Council below state level vest with State Working Committee. The rights to suspend, freeze or dissolve State Working Committee, State Secretariat or State Representative Council vest with National Working Committee.

Article 14

Appeal

There shall be right of appeal to the next higher level in all disciplinary actions.

Article 15

Amendments

The right to amend the Constitution vests with the National Working Committee of the Party. However, the National Representative Council convened specifically for the purpose with prior notice has the power to veto any such amendment with two third majority of those who are present and voting.

Article 16

Merger / Dissolution of the Party

Any decision regarding the dissolution of the Party or the merger of the Party with another party has to be taken in the National Working Committee meeting convened specifically for the purpose, by two third majority of the members present in the concerned meeting. However, any decision regarding the dissolution of the Party or the merger of the Party shall be in effect only after the approval in the National Representative Council meeting convened specifically for the purpose, by simple majority of the members present in the concerned meeting, within a period of two months from the date of the said decision in the National Working Committee.

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