Tue Feb 04 10:08:32 UTC 2025: ## Trinamool Congress Renews Call to Rename West Bengal as “Bangla”
**New Delhi, February 4, 2025** – The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has reignited its push to rename West Bengal to “Bangla,” citing historical and cultural significance. During Rajya Sabha’s Zero Hour on Tuesday, TMC MP Ritabrata Banerjee highlighted a 2018 West Bengal Assembly resolution unanimously supporting the name change. He stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre’s approval, arguing the new name reflects the state’s history, culture, and the aspirations of its people.
Banerjee emphasized that the rationale for the name change stems from the historical context of the 1947 partition and the subsequent creation of Bangladesh in 1971. With East Pakistan no longer existing, he argued, the name “West Bengal” is outdated and the people’s mandate for a name change needs to be respected.
The last state name change occurred in 2011 when Orissa became Odisha. Numerous cities have also undergone name changes in recent decades, including Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, Calcutta to Kolkata, and Bangalore to Bengaluru. The TMC’s renewed plea underscores the party’s commitment to this long-standing proposal.
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