The Sheikh Abdullah Era (1947 to 1953)

Government and reforms

• Sheikh Abdullah was Prime Minister from March 1948. In June 1949 Hari Singh left, and Yuvraj Karan Singh became Regent. In 1952 the Constituent Assembly elected Karan Singh Sadr-i-Riyasat.
• Big Landed Estates Abolition Act (1950): ended large estates and gave the land to the tillers, without compensation to the landlords (ceiling about 22.75 acres). This is the famous "land to the tiller" reform, a core promise of Naya Kashmir.

The Constituent Assembly

• Elections held in 1951; the National Conference won all seats (opposition papers were rejected). The Assembly met on 31 October 1951.
• It ratified the accession (1954) and framed the J&K Constitution, adopted 17 November 1956 and in force from 26 January 1957.

The Delhi Agreement (July 1952)

• Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah agreed that the State would have its own flag beside the Indian one, that the head of State (Sadr-i-Riyasat) would be elected, that residuary powers would stay with the State, and that State subjects would be Indian citizens.

Praja Parishad agitation

• The Praja Parishad demanded full integration: "Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan" (one Constitution, one head, one flag). Syama Prasad Mookerjee joined, was arrested at Lakhanpur (May 1953), and died in detention in Srinagar on 23 June 1953.

Dismissal (1953)

• Differences grew between Sheikh Abdullah and Delhi on autonomy versus integration. On 9 August 1953 the Sadr-i-Riyasat dismissed him. He was arrested at Gulmarg, and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad became Prime Minister.
• Sheikh Abdullah was held (with short breaks) until 1964, and was tried in the Kashmir Conspiracy Case (1958 onwards), later withdrawn.