Which one among the following Princely States opted for a direct dealing with the Constituent Assembly in the year 1946 instead of through the Chamber of Princes?

In 1946, the Cabinet Mission Plan proposed a Constituent Assembly where Princely States were allotted 93 seats [1]. While the Chamber of Princes, led by the Nawab of Bhopal, initially adopted a policy of 'wait and watch' and sought to negotiate collectively through a Negotiating Committee [1], the State of Baroda took a proactive and independent stance. Under the leadership of its Dewan, Sir B.L. Mitter, Baroda opted for direct dealing with the Constituent Assembly in 1946, breaking away from the collective bargaining of the Chamber of Princes. Baroda was the first state to officially join the Assembly, with its representatives taking their seats on April 28, 1947, alongside other early entrants like Bikaner and Patiala. This move significantly weakened the Chamber's unified front and paved the way for the eventual integration of other states into the Indian Union.

Sources

1. [1] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 2: Making of the Constitution > The features of the scheme were: > p. 12