- Appointment and Responsibility – Patel was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs in 1947, entrusting him with the task of unifying the princely states into the Indian Union.
- Diplomacy and Persuasion – With V.P. Menon, Patel used diplomacy and persuasion, assuring the princely states of protection, privileges, and benefits to peacefully encourage their accession to India.
- Instrument of Accession – Patel introduced the Instrument of Accession, allowing princely states to join India on critical matters: defense, foreign affairs, and communications, making the transition smoother.
- Dealing with Resistant States
- Hyderabad: Initiated Operation Polo to secure Hyderabad’s accession after peaceful attempts failed.
- Junagadh: Encouraged a referendum resulting in the state joining India.
- Kashmir: Supported securing Kashmir’s accession in response to Pakistani incursions and Kashmir was forced to sign an Instrument of Accession
- Reorganization into Administrative Units – Post-accession, Patel reorganized princely states into larger administrative units based on linguistic and geographical factors, streamlining governance and administration.
- Patel’s Vision and Legacy – Known as the “Iron Man of India” and “Bismarck of India”, Patel’s efforts laid the foundation for a united India and a strong federal structure.