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West Bengal May Soon Be Renamed As Paschim Banga Says BJP
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News18•05-10-2026, 23:53
West Bengal May Soon Be Renamed As Paschim Banga Says BJP
- •West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya claimed that a bill to rename West Bengal to Paschim Banga may soon be tabled in the assembly.
- •Attempts to change the state name have been made three times over the last 27 years, beginning in 1999 under the Left Front and later under Mamata Banerjee, but failed due to lack of central approval.
- •The proposed name change aims to connect the state with its history and Bengali identity while moving away from the colonial-era name.
- •A new Paschim Banga Bhavan is also proposed to be built in Varanasi to serve as a cultural center and accommodation for pilgrims and tourists from Bengal.
Key Questions Answered
Previous attempts to change West Bengal's name failed due to a lack of political consensus, differing parties ruling at the state and the centre, and the centre's demand for constitutional amendments.
The West Bengal government may soon table a proposal in the assembly to officially rename the state to 'Paschim Banga' to connect it with its history and Bengali identity.
The Paschim Banga Bhavan in Varanasi is being planned as a cultural center and accommodation facility for pilgrims and tourists coming from Bengal, celebrating the spiritual and cultural ties between Varanasi and Bengal.
