Dayanand Bandodkar

Dayanand Balkrishna Bandodkar (12 March 1911 – 12 August 1973) and popularly known as Bhausaheb Bandodkar[1] was the first Chief Minister of Goa, Daman and Diu. A wealthy mine owner, he sought to merge the territory with the state of Maharashtra. He swept the polls in 1963, 1967 and in 1972 while representing the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)[2] and remained in power until his death in 1973.[3]

Dayanand Bandodkar
1st Chief Minister of Goa
In office 1963–1973
Succeeded by	Shashikala Kakodkar
Personal details
Born	12 March 1911
Died	12 August 1973 (aged 62)
Political party	MGP
Occupation	Indian politician

His proposal however to merge with Maharashtra was met with stiff opposition from the local population. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India then offered him two options:[4]

1. To retain Goa's current status as a Union Territory
2. To merge Goa into the neighboring state of Maharashtra and the other erstwhile Portuguese enclaves of Daman and Diu into the neighbouring state of Gujarat

A law to conduct opinion poll to decide the issue of merger or otherwise of Goa, Daman and Diu with Maharashtra/Gujarat was passed by both the houses of the Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha (on 1 December 1966), and the Rajya Sabha (on 7 December 1966 and the same received the assent of the President of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on 16 December 1966. An opinion poll was subsequently held on 16 January 1967 to decide the fate of the union territory which voted to retain its status as a union territory by 34,021 votes.

Bandodkar died in office on 12 August 1973 at age 62 and was succeeded by his daughter Shashikala Kakodkar. Three years after his death his son married the actress Leena Chandavarkar. He died at the age of 25 years on 7 November 1976.[5]

Tenures

1. 20 December 1963 – 2 December 1966 (3 years)
2. 5 April 1967 – 23 March 1972 (5 years)
3. 23 March 1972 – 12 August 1973 (1.5 years)

See also

• Chief Minister of Goa
• Goa Opinion Poll
• Shashikala Kakodkar
• Leena Chandavarkar

References

1. "Parrikar pays tributes to Bhausaheb Bandodkar". United News of India. 12 August 2018.
2. "Remembering Dayanand Bandodkar - first CM of Goa". 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
3. "Assemblywise Chief Ministers of Goa". Goa News. 20 January 2003. Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
4. "History of Goa". Goa Central. Archived from the original on 11 January 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2007.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)