One Land, Two Fates: Kerala Becomes ‘Keralam’ While Bengal’s Wait Continues

One Land, Two Fates: Kerala Becomes 

‘Keralam’ While Bengal’s Wait Continues

New Delhi | February 25, 2026 — In a historic move that settles a decades-old linguistic debate, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officially approved the renaming of Kerala to Keralam on February 24, 2026. However, the decision has sparked a political firestorm in the East, as West Bengal’s long-standing proposal to change its name to Bangla remains stalled in the corridors of power.

Kerala’s Journey to ‘Keralam’

The decision to rename the southern state follows two unanimous resolutions passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in August 2023 and June 2024. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has long argued that while the state is known as "Kerala" in the First Schedule of the Constitution, its native identity is rooted in the Malayalam word Keralam.

"The name Keralam reflects the will of the people and strengthens the connect with our glorious culture," PM Modi stated following the Cabinet meeting at the new PMO complex, Seva Teerth.

The change isn't just symbolic; it aligns the state's official English and Hindi nomenclature with its linguistic roots, dating back to 3rd-century BCE Ashokan edicts which referred to the region as "Keralaputra."

The Constitutional Path Forward

While the Cabinet has given its nod, the process is not yet complete. Under Article 3 of the Constitution, the following steps must occur:

Presidential Reference: The President will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the state assembly for its views.

Parliamentary Approval: Once the assembly responds, the Bill will be introduced in Parliament.

Simple Majority: The Bill requires only a simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Official Gazette: Upon receiving Presidential assent, the First Schedule of the Constitution will be amended.

Why Bengal is Fuming: The "Alphabetical" Struggle

Hours after the announcement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the Centre, labeling the decision "vindictive discrimination." Bengal has been attempting to change its name since 1999, with the most recent resolution passed in 2018 seeking the name Bangla.

The Core Grievances:

The "W" Factor: Banerjee has frequently complained that because "West Bengal" starts with a 'W', the state is always last in alphabetical order during national meetings, often leaving its representatives with the least time to speak.

Historical Baggage: The "West" in the name serves as a constant reminder of the 1947 partition, a scar the state government wishes to move past.

Why the Centre is Hesitant:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have previously flagged two major concerns regarding Bengal's proposal:

International Confusion: The name "Bangla" is nearly identical to the neighboring country Bangladesh, which could lead to diplomatic and administrative confusion on the global stage.

Linguistic Consistency: In 2016, Bengal suggested three names (Bengal in English, Bangla in Bengali, and Bangal in Hindi). The Centre rejected this, insisting on a single uniform name across all languages.


The Political Fallout

Mamata Banerjee alleged that Kerala's approval was the result of a "secret understanding" between the BJP and the CPI(M) ahead of the upcoming state elections. "They [BJP] won't be in power forever. We will get the name 'Bangla' for our state one day," she asserted.

As Kerala prepares to update its maps and official documents, the "Bangla" proposal remains buried, leaving West Bengal to continue sitting at the back of the alphabetical bench for now.

Location: Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India

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