India’s One-Day Prime Minister: A Unique Chapter in History

NEWS CHARIOT : India has witnessed 14 Prime Ministers, from Jawaharlal Nehru to the present leader, Narendra Modi. Each of them has played a crucial role in shaping the nation. However, in the history of independent India, an extraordinary event occurred where an IAS officer served as the Prime Minister for just one day!

This rare incident took place in Dadra & Nagar Haveli, a small Union Territory located between Maharashtra and Gujarat. The territory was under Portuguese rule since the late 18th century, even after India gained independence in 1947. Unlike other princely states, which merged with India after 1947, this region remained under foreign control.

In 1954, Indian nationalists, supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Azad Gomantak Dal (AGD), launched a movement to liberate Dadra & Nagar Haveli from Portuguese rule. By August 2, 1954, the region had gained independence. From 1954 to 1961, it was governed by the “Supreme Panchayat of Free Dadra & Nagar Haveli.”

Despite being freed from Portuguese control, the territory was not legally part of India. Portugal took the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in 1960 that Portugal still had authority over the region. However, the local population strongly supported integration with India.

In 1961, the Supreme Panchayat voted for the merger with India. To complete the legal formalities, the Indian government appointed K.G. Badlani, an IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, to oversee the process. On August 11, 1961, the Supreme Panchayat officially appointed Badlani as the Prime Minister for a single day. This temporary title allowed him to sign the merger agreement with the same authority as the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Within his single day in office, K.G. Badlani signed the “Merger Agreement,” making Dadra & Nagar Haveli an official part of the Indian Union. Later, through the 10th Constitutional Amendment, the territory was declared a Union Territory.

This remarkable event makes K.G. Badlani is the only person in Indian history to serve as Prime Minister for just one day, leaving behind a unique legacy in the country’s governance.

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