Political Row Erupts as Centre Approves Kerala Renaming, Mamata Banerjee Questions 'Bangla' Delay
A significant political controversy has erupted following the Union Cabinet's approval to rename Kerala as "Keralam," with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharply criticizing the central government for delaying a similar proposal for her state. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Banerjee, took to social media to express frustration, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of being "Bangla-birodhi" or anti-Bengal.
Banerjee's Accusations of Discrimination and Hypocrisy
In a strongly worded statement, Banerjee congratulated the people of Kerala on the approval but highlighted the long-pending demand to rename West Bengal as "Bangla." She accused the BJP-led Centre of engaging in "vindictive discrimination," suggesting that the delay is politically motivated due to West Bengal's refusal to align with the BJP's agenda. The TMC emphasized that while it supports states asserting their identity, it will not tolerate what it perceives as unfair treatment.
Banerjee described Modi and Shah as shedding "crocodile tears" during election seasons in Bengal, claiming they pretend to care about the state's culture and people without genuine respect. The party's post on X detailed that the West Bengal government, in power since 2011, passed a resolution in July 2018 to adopt the name "Bangla" and has repeatedly urged the Centre to act on it, but to no avail.
Timing and Electoral Implications
The approval for Kerala's renaming comes ahead of assembly elections expected in April, adding a layer of political strategy to the decision. West Bengal is also scheduled for polls around the same time, intensifying the debate over regional identity and central-state relations. This move has sparked discussions on whether the Centre is using name changes as a tool to influence electoral outcomes, with Banerjee framing it as an attempt to undermine Bengal's heritage and dignity.
The TMC further stated, "Bengal's legitimate demand cannot be denied purely because we refuse to bow before BJP's high command," underscoring the tension between the state and central governments. This incident highlights broader issues of federalism and cultural recognition in India, as states seek to assert their linguistic and historical identities through official name changes.
Background and Ongoing Demands
West Bengal's proposal to rename itself as "Bangla" aims to reflect the state's Bengali language and culture more accurately, similar to how "Keralam" aligns with Kerala's Malayalam roots. Despite multiple submissions and reminders from the state government, the Centre has not moved forward on the request, leading to accusations of bias. This controversy underscores the challenges in balancing regional aspirations with national policies, especially in a diverse country like India.
As the political discourse heats up, observers note that such issues could play a crucial role in upcoming elections, with parties leveraging identity politics to garner support. The row between Banerjee and the Centre is expected to continue, with potential implications for inter-state relations and governance dynamics in the future.
