Kerala to become Keralam. But why West Bengal failed to become Bongo or Bangla?
India Today
The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal to rename Kerala as Keralam. This paves the way for Parliament to take up the constitutional amendment. But West Bengal, which has pushed for a name change multiple times from the days of Jyoti Basu to Mamata Banerjee, has failed to secure the Centre's nod. So, why couldn't West Bengal get its name changed even after proposing it at least four times?
The Union Cabinet approved the renaming of Kerala to Keralam, clearing a long-pending demand from the state government. The Union Cabinet's nod came on Tuesday (February 24), just months ahead of the Assembly Election in Kerala, and follows two unanimous legislative resolutions in August 2023 and June 2024. Though Kerala will soon become Keralam, West Bengal, which has been seeking a name change for decades, continues to wait.
West Bengal's latest proposal to rename the state Bangla remains pending despite multiple Assembly resolutions since 2016. Earlier, the state government had proposed names like, Pashchim Bongo or Bongo.
However, no proposal from the state has been approved by the Centre, including the latest one to change the state's name to Bangla in 2018.
Kerala's proposed renaming to Kerala as Keralam now needs a handful of steps. The President of India has to send a bill to the Kerala Assembly. After the Assembly expresses its views, the Centre will get the President's nod to introduce a Bill in Parliament to alter the state's name in the First Schedule of the Constitution. The Bill will need to be passed by a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament. If passed, it would require the President's assent, and will then be notified in a Gazette. After this, the name change would formally take effect.
Reacting to the approval to change Kerala's name, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said, "We have nothing against any state. Kerala's proposal has been accepted because there is an understanding between the BJP and the CPM..."
The journey began in August 2023, when the Kerala Assembly passed a unanimous resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
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