Kerala to become Keralam. But why West Bengal failed to become Bongo or Bangla?

The Union Cabinet approved the renaming of Kerala to Keralam, clearing a long-pending demand from the state government. The Union Cabinet's nod came on Tuesday (February 24), just months ahead of the Assembly Election in Kerala, and follows two unanimous legislative resolutions in August 2023 and June 2024. Though Kerala will soon become Keralam, West Bengal, which has been seeking a name change for decades, continues to wait.

West Bengal's latest proposal to rename the state Bangla remains pending despite multiple Assembly resolutions. Earlier, the state government had proposed names like, Pashchim Bongo or Bongo.

Kerala's proposed renaming to Kerala as Keralam now needs a handful of steps. The President of India has to send a bill to the Kerala Assembly. After the Assembly expresses its views, the Centre will get the President's nod to introduce a Bill in Parliament to alter the state's name in the First Schedule of the Constitution. The Bill will need to be passed by a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament. If passed, it would require the President's assent, and will then be notified in a Gazette. After this, the name change would formally take effect.