‘Paschim Banga’ Instead of West Bengal? BJP State Chief Samik Bhattacharya Reveals Name Change Plan

West Bengal is poised for an official name change to ‘Paschim Banga,’ according to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Samik Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya announced that a formal legislative bill will be introduced in the upcoming assembly session to anchor the state’s official title directly to its historical roots and eliminate alternative nomenclatures.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Bhattacharya reaffirmed that the government plans to finalize the transition swiftly, dismissing previously proposed variants.

Legislative Move to Preserve Historical Roots

Addressing queries regarding the timeline and exact phrasing of the renaming, Bhattacharya stated that the transition to "Paschim Banga" is imminent.

"Very soon, in the very first session itself, our government is introducing a bill so that the name of this state remains intrinsically linked with the history of this state, and that remains its identity," Bhattacharya said. UCC in West Bengal Within 6 Months, Says CM Suvendu Adhikari; Laws Against ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’ Planned.

He emphasized that alternative proposals - such as "Bangla" or "Paschim Bangla" - would not be pursued, underscoring that the prefix "Paschim" (West) carries specific historical weight tied to the region's heritage following the 1947 Partition.

Shift Away from Previous Renaming Proposals

The debate over renaming the eastern Indian state has spanned several years:

• The Earlier "Bangla" Push: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration had previously passed resolutions advocating for the single name "Bangla" across Bengali, English, and Hindi, primarily arguing it would move the state up alphabetically during official federal proceedings.
• The "Paschim" Contention: That proposal stalled at the central government level, with critics and cultural historians arguing that dropping "Paschim" obscured the historical reality of the partition of undivided Bengal.
• The Current Direction: The latest push by the BJP leadership seeks to codify "Paschim Banga" as the sole designated nomenclature across official documents and state institutions. Mamata Banerjee Had No Leg Fracture in 2021 Nandigram Campaign, Claims Suvendu Adhikari (Video).

Broader Policy Remarks

Alongside the renaming initiative, Bhattacharya addressed broader governance issues. He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public address marking 25 years as head of government and defended national educational standardisation, pointing to recent reforms in neighbouring Assam.

Bhattacharya argued that universal academic standards across primary and secondary curricula are essential to ensure minority students are fully integrated into science, mathematics, and mainstream opportunities.

The renaming bill is expected to be taken up when the legislative assembly convenes for its next working session.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2026 04:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).