 On 1 June 1949 Bhopal was merged with the Union of India ending the princely rule of 250 years.The Government of India appointed an administrative head for Bhopal, called the Chief Commissioner and Lal Kothi was chosen as the official residence of the Chief Commissioner and was renamed Commissioner House 

The Lal Kothi served as a Commissioner House from 1 June 1949 to 1 December 1956.The States Reorganisation Act of 1956, Bhopal state was integrated into the state of Madhya Pradesh, and Bhopal was declared as its capital.