New Delhi, Feb 25 (NationPress) The Union Cabinet has approved the initiative to change Kerala's name to 'Keralam', setting the stage for a constitutional amendment in Parliament and sparking renewed political discussions. The BJP has embraced this decision as a recognition of the state's cultural and linguistic identity, while the Congress party has criticized it as a “dual policy”, questioning the lack of approval for a similar long-standing request to rename West Bengal.

In response to this development, the BJP's National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain stated, “The citizens of Kerala have long demanded the name change to ‘Keralam.’ This change has now been realized. Once the Vidhan Sabha endorses it, Kerala's official name will be ‘Keralam.’”

The Cabinet's endorsement occurred on Tuesday, just months before the Assembly elections in Kerala. The state Assembly had previously supported unanimous resolutions in August 2023 and again in June 2024, urging the Central government to amend the Constitution to adopt the name 'Keralam', which is the Malayalam version of the state's name.

While the proposal for Kerala has advanced, it has rekindled discussions about similar requests from West Bengal. Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput in Uttar Pradesh condemned the Centre’s decision, alleging a lack of consistency in its policies.

“This reflects the BJP’s dual policy. The BJP must clarify why, for electoral motives, it is willing to rename Kerala to ‘Keralam’ but not West Bengal. Amit Shah and PM Modi need to respond to Mamata Banerjee’s reasonable inquiries,” Rajput remarked to IANS.

West Bengal has made numerous attempts to change its name, dating back to the era of former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and continuing under present Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Over the years, names such as “Pashchim Bongo,” “Bongo,” and the latest “Bangla” have been suggested. However, none have secured approval from the Centre. The most recent proposal in 2018 to rename the state to “Bangla” is still pending.

With the Union Cabinet's approval, the process for renaming Kerala now advances to the next constitutional stages. The President of India will send a Bill to the Kerala Assembly for its input. Following the Assembly's formal opinion, the Centre will introduce a Bill in Parliament to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution, which enumerates state names.

This proposed legislation will necessitate a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament. Once passed, it will be submitted to the President for assent. Following approval, the name 'Keralam' will be officially announced in the Gazette of India, marking its formal adoption.