In a significant political development, the Union Cabinet led by Narendra Modi has approved the proposal to rename the state of Kerala as “Keralam.” The decision comes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the southern state and follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
The proposal was put forward by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. On June 24, 2024, the Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to amend the Constitution’s First Schedule and officially change the state’s name to “Keralam” in all government languages.
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal during its meeting, clearing the way for constitutional amendments required for the name change.
Political Timing Ahead of Elections
The decision has sparked political discussions, especially as Kerala is set to go to the polls in April-May. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been attempting to expand its political footprint in southern India, with Kerala being a key focus state.
Political analysts suggest that had the Centre delayed or rejected the proposal, the opposition — including the LDF and the Congress-led UDF — could have turned it into a major election issue. By granting swift approval, the Centre has neutralized a potential controversy and signaled respect for Kerala’s linguistic and cultural identity.
Why “Keralam”?
Malayalam-speaking residents have traditionally referred to the state as “Keralam.” The term is deeply rooted in regional identity and culture. The move is seen as an effort to align the official name with its original linguistic and cultural form.
Since the resolution was passed unanimously in the state assembly — with support from both the ruling LDF and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) — it became politically challenging for the Centre to ignore the demand for long.
The renaming proposal is now expected to proceed through the necessary constitutional process before becoming official.
