West Bengal could soon undergo an official name change to “Paschim Banga” if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in the state, according to BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Bhattacharya asserted that the proposed name change is designed to preserve the state’s historical identity, stating that a formal bill would be introduced during the first session of the Assembly upon forming the government.
The debate surrounding West Bengal’s name has persisted for years. While the Trinamool Congress previously pushed for “Bangla” to improve alphabetical listings and reflect local usage, it failed to secure central approval. If implemented, the shift to “Paschim Banga” would align with other historical state renaming initiatives across India, such as Odisha in 2011 and Kerala’s recent transition to “Keralam” in 2026.
During his address, Bhattacharya also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25-year public service milestone and voiced support for Assam’s administrative education reforms, emphasising inclusive access to science and mathematics for minority students.
