Bhopal State (1949–1956)

Bhopal was a state of India, which existed from 1949 to 1956. The state evolved out of the princely state of Bhopal, and was merged with neighbouring states to form Madhya Pradesh in 1956. Shankar Dayal Sharma of the Indian National Congress served as chief minister of Bhopal state from 1952 to 1956.

History
Before the independence of India the princely state of Bhopal was ruled by the hereditary Nawabs. As a result of the Indian Independence Act 1947, the princely states were released from their treaty obligations to the British and were left to decide whether to join one of the new dominions of India and Pakistan. In March 1948, the last Nawab expressed his wish to rule Bhopal as an independent state. However, agitations against his rule broke out in December 1948, leading to the arrest of prominent leaders including Shankar Dayal Sharma. On 23 January 1949, Sharma was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment for violating restrictions on public meetings; some other satyagrahis were also arrested. Later, the political detainees were released and on 30 April 1949 the Nawab signed an Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India. The state of Bhopal was taken over by the Union Government of India on 1 June 1949 and was declared a "Part C" state, to be governed by a Chief Commissioner appointed by the President of India.

Disestablishment
According to the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, Bhopal state was integrated into the state of Madhya Pradesh, and Bhopal was declared as the capital of the newly formed state.

Geography
The Bhopal state included the present-day districts of Bhopal, Raisen, and Sehore.

Government
The Indian National Congress won the first elections for Legislative Assembly and Parliament, held in 1952. The composition of the 30-member Bhopal State Assembly was:


 * 25 – Indian National Congress
 * 1 – Hindu Mahasabha
 * 4 – Independent

Shankar Dayal Sharma (19 August 1918 – 26 December 1999) was sworn in as the first (and the only) Chief Minister of the state on 20 March 1952. He was the youngest Chief Minister in India at the time.