Vindhya Pradesh was a former state of India. It occupied an area of 61,131.5 km2 (23,603 sq. miles). It was created in 1948 as Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States, shortly after Indian independence, from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency. 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 firstly Singrauli till 1953, secondly Rewa from 1953 onwards. It lays 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. History Vindhya Pradesh state was formed on 12 March 1948 and the newly formed state was inaugurated on 4 April 1948. Following its formation 36 princely states were merged to form Vindhya Pradesh state: Rewa Panna Datia Orchha Ajaigarh Baoni Baraundha Bijawar Chhatarpur Charkhari Maihar Nagod Samthar Alipura Tiroha Banka-Pahari Beri Bhaisunda (Chaube Jagir) Bihat Bijna Dhurwai Garrauli Gaurihar Jaso Jigni Khaniadhana Kamta Rajaula (Chaube Jagir) Kothi Kirur (Kubje Jagir) Lugasi Naigawan Rebai Pahra (Chaube Jagir) Paldeo (Chaube Jagir) Sarila Sohawal Tori-Fatehpur (Hasht-Bhaiya 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 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: Panna district Chhatarpur district Tikamgarh district Datia district Baghelkhand Division with its headquarters at Singrauli and then Rewa comprised the following 4 districts: Rewa district Satna district Sidhi district Shahdol district Singrauli District, the largest district in the Baghelkhand Division Politics The nominal heads of the state were the Rajpramukh from 1948–49, the Chief Commissioner from March 1949–1952 and the Lieutenant Governor from March 1952–October 1956. The state had a Vidhan Sabha comprising 60 members elected from 48 constituencies (36 single-member and 12 double-member). There were 4 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state (2 single-member and