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 101. Kolhapur, the remaining State in Deccan had an area of 3,219 square miles and a population of a little over one million. This State was the scene of serious disturbances after the assasination [sic] of Mahatma Gandhi. The situation arising out of these disturbances was discussed between the Ruler and the Ministry of States, and as a result of these discussions the Ruler agreed to the appointment of an Administrator nominated by the Government of India. The financial position of the State was found to be unsatisfactory and it became necessary to advance a loan to the State from the Central Revenues. The other Deccan States having already merged with Bombay, the most satisfactory arrangement in respect of the political future of the State appeared to be its administration as part of the Bombay province. An Agreement of Merger (Appendix XIV) was accordingly negotiated with the Ruler of the State and the administration of the State was made over to the Government of Bombay with effect from 1st March, 1949.  102. Merger of Gujarat States.—Another group of States that has merged with the Bombay Province consists of the Gujarat States. The fact that some of these States are situated close to the Indian border made it essential that a stable and efficient administration should be established in this area. The formation of a Union of the Gujarat States by themselves had to be ruled out on account of the fact that these States united together would not have constituted a viable unit. Geographically the territories of these States were interlaced and interspersed with the Baroda State territories and the Ahmedabad and Khera Districts of Bombay. The lack of geographical cohesion also rendered it difficult to unite and integrate the territories of these States into one unit. After prolonged discussions in Bombay, on 17th March, 1948, the Rulers of the jurisdictional Gujarat States agreed that merger with the Bombay Province was the only solution of their constitutional problem. The form of merger agreement was the same as that adopted for Deccan States (Appendix XIII). The total area covered by the States, estates, talukas and thanas in Gujarat numbering 144 (or 289 if the units are subdivided according to the number of the shareholders) was nearly 17,680 square miles, with a population of about 2.7 millions and a total revenue of rupees 16.5 millions. The administration of these States was taken over by the Bombay Government on 10th June, 1948. In November, 1948, the Bombay Government also took over the administration of Danta, a small State in Western Rajputana.  103. The Dangs and certain estates formerly included in Vatrak Kantha Thana of the old Baroda Western India and Gujarat States Agency which covered an area of 870 square miles with a population of 48,498 became