1967 Goa status referendum

The 1967 Goa status referendum popularly known as the Goa Opinion Poll was a referendum held in newly annexed union territory of Goa and Damaon in India, on 16 January 1967, to deal with the Konkani language agitation and to decide the future of Goa.

1967 Goa status referendum
16 January 1967 (1967-01-16)
Should Goa merge with Maharashtra; and Damaon and Diu with Gujarat, or should they remain as a Union Territory?
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Merge 138,170 44.52%
Remain 172,191 55.48%
Valid votes 310,361 97.71%
Invalid or blank votes 7,272 2.29%
Total votes 317,633 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 388,392 81.78%

The referendum, backed by United Goans Party, offered the people of Goa a choice between continuing as a separate territory of India, or merging with the large Marathi speaking state of Maharashtra, the latter being the agenda of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. It is the only referendum to have been held in independent India. The people of Goa voted against the merger and Goa continued to be a union territory. Subsequently, in 1987, Goa became a full-fledged state within the Indian Union.

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