West Bengal passes resolution to change state’s name to ‘Bangla’, Centre has to approve it
The move is an attempt to give West Bengal an advantage in meetings with other states, where an alphabetical order determines the order of discussion.
The West Bengal Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution to change the state’s name to “Bangla” in Bengali, English and Hindi, PTI reported. The move is the third attempt to give West Bengal an advantage in meetings led by the Union government where opportunities to speak are allotted on an alphabetical basis.
The change is subject to the Union Home Ministry’s approval.
The Mamata Banerjee-led state government has been vocal about the matter citing that its name has put it at a disadvantage during meetings where the 29 states are in attendance. State representatives complained that they do not get enough time to put their points across.
In 2011, Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress-led government had proposed the name “Paschim Bango” which was rejected by the Central government. Opposition parties led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had also supported the move then.
In August 2016, the state passed a resolution to rename the state in three languages – Bangla in Bengali, Bengal in English, and Bangal in Hindi. The Centre turned down this proposal.