The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposal to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’, setting in motion the constitutional process for formal adoption of the state’s Malayalam name. The move has triggered political debate, with the BJP endorsing it as recognition of Kerala’s linguistic and cultural identity, while Congress criticised the government’s selective approach.
BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said on Wednesday that the decision addresses a long-standing demand from the people of Kerala. “The people of Kerala had a long-standing demand for the name to be changed to ‘Keralam.’ Once approved by the Vidhan Sabha, the official name of Kerala will become ‘Keralam,’” he stated.
The proposal follows resolutions passed unanimously by the Kerala Assembly in August 2023 and June 2024, urging the Centre to amend the Constitution to reflect the Malayalam pronunciation of the state’s name. The timing of the Cabinet’s approval, months ahead of the Assembly elections in Kerala, has drawn attention from political analysts and opposition leaders alike.
Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput criticised the move, calling it a “dual policy” and questioning why a similar demand for West Bengal has not been considered. “The BJP should answer, for electoral reasons, you are ready to rename Kerala to ‘Keralam,’ but you are not changing the name of West Bengal. Amit Shah and PM Modi should respond to Mamata Banerjee’s questions,” Rajput told IANS.
West Bengal has repeatedly sought a name change over decades, from former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu’s tenure to proposals under current Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Suggested names included “Pashchim Bongo,” “Bongo,” and most recently “Bangla.” However, none of these proposals, including the 2018 recommendation to rename the state “Bangla,” have received approval from the Centre.
Following Cabinet approval for Kerala, the next step involves the President of India sending a Bill to the Kerala Assembly to seek its opinion. After the Assembly formally expresses its view, the Centre will introduce legislation in Parliament to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution, which lists the names of all states.
The Bill will require a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament. Once passed, it will be sent to the President for assent. The official notification will be published in the Gazette of India, at which point the name ‘Keralam’ will be formally adopted.
The renaming proposal has reignited nationwide discussion over state identity, constitutional processes, and political considerations. Kerala’s approval contrasts with pending demands from other states, drawing attention to the selective nature of Centre’s response to long-standing renaming requests.
As the process moves forward, observers note that the official adoption of ‘Keralam’ depends on the Assembly’s recommendation and parliamentary passage, marking a significant step in formalising the state’s name in line with its regional language and cultural heritage.
