Dayanand Bandodkar

Dayanand Balkrishna Bandodkar (12 March 1911 – 12 August 1973), popularly known as Bhausaheb Bandodkar[1] was the first Chief Minister of Goa, in the territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. Born in Pernem to a Marathi family who had immigrated from Tuljapur,[2][3] he became a wealthy mine owner following the Annexation of Goa. 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)[4] and remained in power until his death in 1973.[5]

Dayanand Bandodkar
1st Chief Minister of Goa, Daman and Diu
In office 20 December 1963 – 2 December 1966
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	President's rule
In office 5 April 1967 – 23 March 1972
Preceded by	President's rule
Succeeded by	Himself
In office 23 March 1972 – 12 August 1973
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Shashikala Kakodkar
Member of Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly
In office 31 December 1964 – 1972
Preceded by	Vasant Velingkar
Succeeded by	Krishna Bandodkar
Constituency	Marcaim
In office 1972 – 12 August 1973
Preceded by	Anthony D'Souza
Succeeded by	Ramakant Khalap
Constituency	Mandrem
Personal details
Born	Dayanand Balkrishna Bandodkar (1911-03-12)12 March 1911 Pernem, Goa, Portuguese India, Portuguese Empire (now in India)
Died	12 August 1973(1973-08-12) (aged 62) Panaji, Goa, India
Political party	Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (1963–1973)
Children	5, including Shashikala Kakodkar
Occupation	Politician
Nickname	Bhausaheb Bandodkar

Bandodkar was a member of the Kalawantin community (now known as Gomantak Maratha Samaj in Goa).[6] His proposal to merge Goa with Maharashtra was met with stiff opposition from the native Goans. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India then offered him two options:[7]

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 a referendum 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 separate status by 34,021 votes.[8]