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of the Government of India, to the merger of that State, Taluka or Estate in the United State of Kathiawar.

(2) The terms of all the agreements of merger referred to in clause (b) of paragraph (1) of this Article shall be binding on the United State and shall be deemed to be part of this Covenant.

Article III

(1) There shall be a Council of the Rulers of the Covenanting Salute States.

(2) There shall be a Presidium consisting of five members, each of whom shall be the Ruler of a Covenanting State and shall be not less than 21 years of age.

(3) Subject to the condition mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Article, the Rulers of Nawanagar and Bhavnagar shall be permanent members of the Presidium, one member shall be elected from among themselves by the Rulers of the Covenanting Non-Salute States, and the other members shall be elected from among themselves by the members of the Council of Rulers other than Nawanager and Bhavnagar.

(4) The Council of Rulers shall elect one member of the Presidium to be the President, and another to be the Vice-President of the Presidium, and the President so elected shall be the RAJ PRAMUKH of the United State.

(5) A Ruler elected as a member of the Presidium in pursuance of paragraph (3), or as the President or the Vice-President of the Presidium in pursuance of paragraph (4), of this Article shall be entitled to field office as such member, President or Vice-President, as the case may be, for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon the duties of that office.

(6) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the preceding paragraphs of this Article—

(a) the present Rulers of Nawanagar and Bhavnagar, having been elected President and Vice-President, respectively, of the Presidium by the Rulers concerned on the 17th January, 1948, shall be the first President and Vice-President, respectively, of the Presidium,
(b) the present Rulers of Dharangadhra, Palitana and Kotda-Sangani, having been elected members of the Presidium by
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