Vindhya Pradesh was a former state of India. It was created in 1948 as Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency. <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: File:VindhyaPradesh.JPG -->It was named as Vindhya Pradesh on 25 January 1950 after the Vindhya Range, which runs through the centre of the province. The capital of the state was the former princely state of Rewa. It lay between Uttar Pradesh to the north and Madhya Pradesh to the south, and the enclave of Datia, which lay a short distance to the west, was surrounded by the state of Madhya Bharat.

Vindhya Pradesh was merged into Madhya Pradesh in 1956, following the States Reorganisation Act.

It occupied an area of 61,131.5 km2 (23,603 sq. miles).

History

Vindhya Pradesh state was formed on 12 March 1948 and inaugurated on 4 April 1948. 36 princely states were merged to form Vindhya Pradesh state:

  1. Rewa
  2. Panna
  3. Datia
  4. Orchha
  5. Ajaigarh
  6. Shahdol
  7. Baraundha
  8. Bijawar
  9. Chhatarpur
  10. Charkhari
  11. Maihar
  12. Nagod
  13. Samthar
  14. Alipura
  15. Rampur Naikin
  16. Beri
  17. Sidhi
  18. Bihat
  19. Bijna
  20. Dhurwai
  21. Garrauli
  22. Gaurihar
  23. Singrauli
  24. Jigni
  25. Khaniadhana
  26. Kamta Rajaula (Chaube Jagir)
  27. Kothi State
  28. Kirur (Kubje Jagir)
  29. Lugasi
  30. Naigawan Rebai
  31. Pahra (Chaube Jagir)
  32. (Bevhari)
  33. Sarila
  34. Sihawal
  35. Satna Jagir)

On 25 January 1950, 11 erstwhile princely states, namely, Bihat, Banka Paharee, Baoni, Beri, Bijna, Charkhari, Jigni, Samthar, Sarila, Tori-Fatehpur and parts of Kirur Kubje were transferred to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Bharat. Vindhya Pradesh, together with the states of Madhya Bharat and Bhopal State, was merged into Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 1956.

Divisions

thumb|A map of Vindhya Pradesh

After formation, the state was divided into two divisions, which were further divided into 8 districts.

Bundelkhand Division with its headquarters at Nowgaon comprised the following 4 districts:

  1. Panna district
  2. Chhatarpur district
  3. Tikamgarh district
  4. Datia district

Baghelkhand Division with its headquarters at Singrauli and then Rewa comprised the following 4 districts: was created and the state was allotted 4 Lok Sabha constituencies (2 single-member and 2 double-member).

In the first general election in 1951, the Indian National Congress won 40 seats and the Socialist Party won 11 seats.