Mamata Banerjee Links Kerala's Name Change to BJP-CPI-M Alliance
Synopsis
West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claims the recent renaming of Kerala is tied to a covert understanding between the BJP and CPI-M, while advocating for 'Bangla' as West Bengal's new name. Her efforts, however, face resistance from the Union government.
Key Takeaways
Mamata Banerjee connects Kerala's name change to a BJP-CPI-M understanding.
She is advocating for renaming West Bengal to Bangla .
The proposal has faced resistance from the Union government.
Banerjee emphasizes cultural identity in her naming efforts.
She congratulated Kerala on their name change.
Kolkata, Feb 24 (NationPress) - West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated on Tuesday that the decision to rename Kerala, which is governed by the Left Democratic Front (LDF), stems from a tacit agreement between the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This understanding is also reflected in a covert political arrangement within West Bengal.
"The renaming of Kerala was made possible due to the collaboration between the BJP and CPI-M, which also exists in West Bengal. Yet, our initiative to rename 'West Bengal' to 'Bangla' has been denied. I am committed to pursuing this change until the end," she declared while addressing reporters.
According to CM Banerjee, her proposal to alter the name of West Bengal was grounded in the state's rich culture, history, ideologies, and philosophy.
"This proposal has received approval multiple times in the West Bengal Assembly. However, the Union government has not supported it. When our students attend national-level exams or interviews, they are often called last because the name of our state starts with 'W', placing it at the end of the English alphabetical list. I also encounter similar challenges when representing the state at conferences as the Chief Minister,"
she explained.
CM Banerjee mentioned that in the past, numerous proposals from different state governments to change their names have been sanctioned by the Union government.
"Nevertheless, we (West Bengal) remain deprived of this privilege,"
she added.
At the same time, she extended her congratulations to the people of Kerala for their state's name change.
She also noted that she had previously approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the proposal to rename "West Bengal" as "Bangla".
"However, these discussions were unfruitful as they are perceived to be 'anti-Bengal' and 'anti-Bengali'. They consistently disregard the icons and visionaries from West Bengal, only mentioning 'Bangla' during election periods for electoral gains,"
the Chief Minister stated.
CM Banerjee expressed that she holds no objections to name changes for other states.
"We are open to such matters. We hold no animosity towards other states. Our only desire is to have our state's name changed as well,"
she asserted.
The primary concern from the Union government regarding the renaming of "West Bengal" to "Bangla" was that the new name bears a resemblance to the neighboring country of Bangladesh.
Up until now, the proposal from the West Bengal government regarding the name change has neither been officially endorsed nor rejected.
Point of View
The comments from Mamata Banerjee highlight the ongoing complexities in state-federal relations, particularly in how political alliances can influence significant decisions like state renaming. The proposed change reflects broader cultural identities and regional pride, which are often contested in Indian politics.
NationPress
6 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Mamata Banerjee want to rename West Bengal?
Mamata Banerjee aims to rename West Bengal to 'Bangla' to reflect the state's culture and history, citing the problem of its current name positioning it last in alphabetical listings.
What does Banerjee say about the BJP-CPI-M alliance?
Banerjee suggests that the renaming of Kerala is indicative of a hidden political understanding between the BJP and CPI-M, which she believes also exists in West Bengal.
Has the proposal to rename West Bengal been approved?
No, the proposal has been passed in the West Bengal Assembly but has not received endorsement from the Union government.
What is the main objection to renaming West Bengal?
The Union government objected to the name 'Bangla' because it is considered too similar to 'Bangladesh'.
Did Banerjee discuss the name change with the Prime Minister?
Yes, she has previously approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the proposal, but without success.
