Kerala renamed Keralam: Lok Sabha passes name-change Bill amid Opposition uproar
Synopsis
Without a single word of debate, the Lok Sabha passed a Bill on 11 August to rename Kerala to Keralam — a change rooted in a 2024 state assembly resolution and decades of linguistic identity politics. The Opposition's boycott of the debate, while protesting an unrelated issue, meant that even MPs from Kerala itself said nothing on a Bill that directly concerns their state.
Key Takeaways
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 11 August by voice vote, proposing to rename the state to Keralam .
The Bill was passed without any floor debate as Opposition MPs continued sloganeering over the NEET protesters' police action on 20 July .
The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on 24 June 2024 requesting the Centre to make the change under Article 3 of the Constitution.
The Union Cabinet under PM Narendra Modi approved the proposal in February 2026 .
The Bill must still clear the Rajya Sabha and receive Presidential assent to take constitutional effect.
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Lok Sabha through a voice vote on Tuesday, 11 August, officially proposing to rename the state of Kerala to Keralam — even as Opposition members drowned the proceedings with continuous sloganeering, preventing any floor debate on the legislation.
How the Bill Was Passed
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai introduced the Bill in the lower house amid persistent disruptions by Opposition MPs, who were demanding the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and a statement on the police action against NEET protesters on 20 July. Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was presiding over the session, repeatedly urged members to allow the House to function, but the din persisted. With no debate taking place, the Bill was put to a voice vote and passed.
Government Criticism of the Opposition
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Minister of State Nityanand Rai criticised the Opposition for obstructing a Bill that carries significant cultural and linguistic weight for the people of Kerala. 'It is sad that even senior Congress leaders like K.C. Venugopal aren't going to speak on the Bill,' Rijiju said, highlighting the irony of Opposition MPs from Kerala itself staying silent on the matter. The Bill was ultimately passed without a single word of discussion from either side of the aisle.
Background: A Long-Standing Linguistic Demand
The push to rename Kerala to Keralam is rooted in the state's linguistic identity. The Kerala Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on 24 June 2024, noting that while the state's name in Malayalam is 'Keralam', the First Schedule to the Constitution records it as 'Kerala'. The resolution appealed to the Centre to amend the schedule under Article 3 of the Constitution. The demand traces back to the formation of linguistic states on 1 November 1956 — a date observed as Kerala Piravi Day — when the unified Malayalam-speaking region was carved out, yet its constitutional name did not reflect the Malayalam pronunciation.
Cabinet Approval and Legislative Journey
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the name-change proposal in February 2026, paving the way for the Bill's introduction in Parliament. The Kerala government had formally written to the Union government requesting an amendment to the First Schedule following the state assembly's 2024 resolution. The Bill's passage in the Lok Sabha marks a significant step, though it will still require clearance from the Rajya Sabha before the change takes constitutional effect.
What Happens Next
The Bill must now pass the Rajya Sabha and receive Presidential assent before 'Keralam' becomes the state's official constitutional name. The change, once enacted, will alter the First Schedule of the Constitution — a relatively rare legislative event. For the people of Kerala, the renaming aligns the Constitution with what Malayalam speakers have called their state for centuries.
Point of View
Cross-party supported measure — backed by the Kerala assembly unanimously in 2024 — was cleared in silence because the Opposition chose a different battlefield. The irony is sharp: Congress MPs from Kerala, including senior leader K.C. Venugopal, did not speak on a Bill that directly affects their own state's constitutional identity. Meanwhile, the government, which controls the legislative calendar, could have scheduled the Bill on a less turbulent day. Both sides bear responsibility for a moment that deserved more than a voice vote in a din.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026?
It is a Parliamentary Bill passed by the Lok Sabha on 11 August 2026 that proposes to officially rename the state of Kerala to Keralam in the First Schedule of the Constitution, reflecting the Malayalam-language name of the state.
Why does Kerala want to be renamed Keralam?
The name Keralam is what the state is called in the Malayalam language, and the demand to align the constitutional name with this has existed since the state's formation on 1 November 1956. The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on 24 June 2024 urging the Centre to make the change under Article 3 of the Constitution.
Why was there no debate on the Bill in Lok Sabha?
Opposition MPs were engaged in continuous sloganeering demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's presence and a statement on police action against NEET protesters on 20 July. The disruption prevented any floor discussion, and the Bill was passed by voice vote without debate.
What happens next after the Lok Sabha passage?
The Bill must be passed by the Rajya Sabha and then receive Presidential assent before Keralam becomes the state's official constitutional name. Only then will the First Schedule to the Constitution be formally amended.
When did the Union Cabinet approve the name change?
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal to rename Kerala to Keralam in February 2026, following the Kerala government's formal request to the Centre after the state assembly's 2024 resolution.
