Moti Mahal in Gwalior housed Madhya Bharat’s first legislature

Moti Mahal in Gwalior housed the legislature of the former Madhya Bharat state. After independence, Gwalior became Madhya Bharat’s capital, and the Darbar Hall in the palace served as its first legislative assembly. The state government functioned there from 1948 until Madhya Bharat merged into the reorganised Madhya Pradesh in 1956. The assembly also considered the framework for Madhya Pradesh’s formation in 1955–56. The Darbar Hall is now a museum and tourist site.

Notable Points

• Madhya Bharat legislature: Madhya Bharat’s 99-member Vidhan Sabha was elected from 79 constituencies: 59 single-member and 20 double-member. In the 1952 election, the Indian National Congress won 75 seats and the Hindu Mahasabha won 11.
• State reorganisation in 1955–56: The States Reorganisation Commission was chaired by Fazal Ali, with H. N. Kunzru and K. M. Panikkar as members. It submitted its report on 30 September 1955. The States Reorganisation Act took effect on 1 November 1956, alongside the Constitution (Seventh Amendment) Act.
• Madhya Bharat administration: Madhya Bharat comprised 16 districts. They were first grouped into three Commissioners’ Divisions, later reduced to two.