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the Ministers and their failure to inspire confidence amongst the people resulted in a most distressing situation. The Ministry resigned on April 14, 1949 and an official administration was set up on April 15, 1949.
124. It was clear beyond doubt that in view of its economic and political backwardness, Vindhya Pradesh could not be administered as a Union of States. The only two alternatives open before the Government of India were either its merger with the neighbouring Provinces or its conversation into a Centrally administered unit. This position was explained to the Rulers and the Congress leaders of the Union and as a result of the discussions with them, the Rulers signed in December 1949, an Agreement ceding to the Dominion Government full and exclusive jurisdiction and authority over the territories comprising Vindhya Pradesh (Appendix XXXIII). After giving the matter very careful consideration, the administration of Vindhya Pradesh was taken over by the Centre on 1st January, 1950 and it is now being administered as a Chief Commissioner's Province.
Formation of Unions
125. There were several groups of States which, with due regard to geographical, linguistic, social and cultural affinities of the people could be consolidated into sizeable and viable units consisting entirely of States. In these regions, the sentiment of the Rulers and the people alike was in favour of such an arrangement. In such cases, territories of States were united to form Unions of States on the basis of full transfer of power from the Rulers to the people. A special feature of these Unions is the provision for the Rajpramukh as the constitutional head of the State who is to be elected by the Council of Rulers. This arrangement, while ensuring close approximation of the system of governance in the States and the Provinces and of the rights and liberties of the people, retains in some measure the traditional polity of the States.
Saurashtra
126. This form of consolidation of States was first adopted in Kathiawar, covering 222 States and Estates (449 units if calculated on the basis of further fragmentation according to the number of share-holders), with varying territories and jurisdictions. Many of these States had several scattered islands of territories and added together these States divided the map of Kathiawar into about 860 different areas. The scheme for the constitution of the United State of Kathiawar, now known as Saurashtra, was finalised in the last week of January 1948. Some of the distinctive features of the scheme are:
