Sardar Patel's success was a great success to include the native states in India, but this success was incomplete until the democratic government system was established in the native states. Before getting into independent India, the native states were under the British and the British had the right to rule freely in these states.
Even in any state a king could remain on his throne only as long as the Englishman was happy with him. This happiness usually lasted only as long as the treasury of that state, It was available to the British for plunder. In the biggest state, the British used to choose the successor of his choice and make him the king, but in independent India the status of the kings had changed. He only defended, Communications and foreign affairs were devoted to the Government of India. In the rest of the cases they were completely independent.
After the departure of the British, native kings could proudly wear their golden crowns and bright turbans and live a life of luxury in their high-rise palaces. They could hang their lowly subjects by talk and could spend all the natural resources of their state and various taxes from the subjects on their luxuries. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the real fun of India's independence was going to come only to the people.
Patel did not want that from two villages to the biggest king, the right to hang the subjects should remain with the king. Therefore it became imperative to bring these princely states under the democratic system of governance. Patel explained to the Indian kings that like the modern world, the state power in the native states should also be used by the people and for the welfare of the people. He warned the kings that disturbance and disorder would not be tolerated in any native state. Praja Mandal Movement in the princely states, were already underway before independence
But he had only partial success in his efforts. Popular cabinets were formed in some big states, but most of the posts ranging from prime minister to general ministers were with the relatives of the kings. Local constitutions were also framed in some states, but in them also the jagirdars were given more rights than the general public.
In some native states, governments were also formed on the basis of electoral system, but their constitutions were made in such a way that only a large number of zamindars could be elected.
Patel wanted that the subjects of all the princely states should also have the same economic status as the subjects of the Indian provinces, Equal opportunities and facilities should be available in educational and other fields, but it was not possible to do so until the kings and their vassals continued.