Mamata Banerjee Criticizes Union Government for Ignoring West Bengal Name Change Requests

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced her discontent with the Union government's disregard for her requests to rename the state to 'Bangla'. This criticism comes on the heels of the Union Cabinet's approval to rename Kerala as 'Keralam'. Banerjee argues that the current name places West Bengal at a disadvantage in alphabetical listings, affecting representation in discussions. She alleges a political alliance between the BJP and CPI(M) has influenced the name change for Kerala while ignoring West Bengal's appeals. The Trinamool Congress has made several attempts to change the state's name, emphasizing its cultural significance. Banerjee's remarks highlight ongoing tensions between state and central governance regarding identity and representation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 25, 2026, 10:03 IST

Mamata Banerjee's Call for Name Change

On Tuesday, West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her frustration over the Union government's failure to respond to her repeated appeals for renaming the state to 'Bangla'. This statement followed the Union Cabinet's recent decision to rename Kerala as 'Keralam'.

Banerjee, who leads the Trinamool Congress, suggested that a collaboration between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Kerala's ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) facilitated the name change for Kerala, while West Bengal's requests have been overlooked.

In a video message, she questioned why West Bengal has been relegated to the end of the alphabetical list, highlighting that the state's name starts with 'W'.

The Trinamool Congress has long advocated for this change, arguing that the current name places West Bengal at a disadvantage during discussions where states are listed alphabetically, resulting in less time for representation.

Banerjee remarked, 'When our students attend exams, they often find themselves seated at the back.' She noted that as Chief Minister, she is frequently given the last opportunity to speak due to the alphabetical order.

She mentioned that the state government has passed multiple resolutions in the Legislative Assembly requesting the name change. In 2011, the Trinamool Congress proposed 'Paschim Banga', but this was rejected by the Union government, despite support from the CPI(M)-led opposition.

In August 2016, the Assembly passed a resolution to rename the state 'Bangla' in Bengali, 'Bengal' in English, and 'Bangal' in Hindi, but the Union government did not approve it. Another resolution in July 2018 sought to change the name to 'Bangla' in all three languages.

Renaming a state requires a bill to be introduced in Parliament, along with the president's recommendation, and must be approved by both Houses.

Banerjee emphasized her desire to rename the state 'Bangla' to honor its rich culture and intellectual heritage, accusing the Union government of being 'anti-Bangla'.

She criticized the government for disrespecting Bengali scholars, claiming they only use the term 'Bengali' for electoral gains.

Congratulating Kerala on its name change, Banerjee pointed out that other states have successfully changed their names after receiving support from their respective governments.

She alleged that the name change for Kerala was a result of an alliance between the BJP and CPI(M) in the state, calling the recent developments a clear indication of this collaboration.

In February 2025, Trinamool Congress MP Ritabrata Banerjee had also called for renaming West Bengal to 'Bangla', arguing that it better represents the state's cultural and historical identity.