‘Why deny Bengal its rightful name?’: CM Mamata targets Centre over Kerala renaming

Political tensions escalated in West Bengal after the Centre approved Kerala’s proposal to rename the state as “Keralam,” with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly questioning why a similar demand for “Bengal” remains pending. Reacting sharply, she accused the BJP-led central government of discriminatory treatment and asserted that West Bengal has been unfairly denied the right to adopt a name reflecting its linguistic and cultural identity.

While congratulating the people of Kerala, Mamata Banerjee said she respects the constitutional rights of states but alleged that the Centre’s approach toward Bengal has been suppressive. She claimed that the state suffers administrative and representational disadvantages because “West Bengal” appears last in alphabetical order, affecting everything from official meetings to international forums. She further argued that even students from the state face symbolic neglect due to the naming issue.

The Chief Minister questioned why the Centre has kept the proposal pending despite the state assembly passing a resolution three times seeking the name change. After earlier objections, the state government had submitted a revised proposal recommending the single name “Bengal” in Hindi, English and Bengali. However, she said, the matter continues to remain on hold without clear justification.

In a sharp political attack, Mamata alleged that the approval granted to Kerala reflects a “written understanding” between the BJP and the CPI(M). She claimed that while BJP leaders frequently invoke the word “Bengal” during elections, the same government raises technical objections, including concerns over similarity with Bangladesh, when it comes to formal recognition of the name.

Calling the issue one of linguistic pride and public sentiment rather than mere administration, Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed her determination to continue the fight. She declared that governments may change, but she will persist until the state secures the name “Bengal,” expressing confidence that the Centre will eventually have to concede to what she described as a legitimate and unanimous demand.