Kerala’s name changed, Mamata Banerjee asks, “Why not Bengal?”

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the request to change the name of Kerala to Keralam. In accordance with that, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the center, asking for clarification on why the name of West Bengal cannot be changed, despite requesting the matter 2–3 times. She further accused the center of being ‘anti-bangla,’ sparking a fresh political flashpoint between Kolkata and New Delhi.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Minister Amit Shah as “bangla-birodhi”, meaning anti-bangla. She said that the same proposal to change the name of West Bengal to Bangla has been submitted multiple times in the Cabinet, but it is still pending.

“Congratulations to all of my brothers and sisters in Kerala. I am very happy for them. But, I have raised the issue of changing the name of West Bengal 2–3 times at the center. In these last five years, they have not allowed us to change the name of our state. I don’t understand why?” said Mamata Banerjee.

In total, 4 times, the change of name of West Bengal has been introduced in the center:

1. In 1999, CM Jyoti Basu proposed the change of name of West Bengal to “Paschim Bangla” or “Bangla.”

2. In 2011, when TMC came to power in West Bengal, CM Mamata Banerjee offered to change the name to “Paschim Banga” in both English and Bengali, but got turned down. 3. 5 years later in 2016, the Mamata Banerjee-led government again proposed to change the name of West Bengal to “Bengal” in English, “Bangla” in Bangla and “Bangal” in Hindi. This was later rejected. The center clarified that it cannot approve 3 different names in 3 different languages.

4. After that, in 2018, a fresh resolution was passed by Mamata Banerjee to change the name of West Bengal to only one name, “Bangla.” This request was also disapproved by the center. The Ministry of External Affairs explained that“ Bangla had similarities to Bangladesh, and it would be difficult to differentiate the two at international forums,” reported The Hindu.

5. As of recent years, in 2025, West Bengal’s name change was demanded again on the floor of the Rajya Sabha by TMC MP Ritabrata Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee said that she wanted to change the name primarily because, as West Bengal starts with “W”, which is the last alphabet of the English alphabet series, she continues to be the last one to speak in important meetings of the Center where the alphabetical order is followed. She further claimed that in most cases her name comes towards the end of the second half when the energy of the room begins to flourish.

On Tuesday, 24 February, she said, “We have nothing against any state. Kerala’s proposal has been accepted because there is an understanding between the BJP and the CPM,” sparking the idea that there is a hidden motive for this name change. However, she later declared that the BJP-led center won’t be in power forever, and she will attain her goal in the future.