BJP State Chief Declares West Bengal Will Be Renamed Paschim Banga, Bill Pending

Samik Bhattacharya, the chief of the state BJP, told the press that West Bengal will be renamed Paschim Banga, ending the use of terms like Paschim Bangla or Bangla. He announced that a bill to formalise the new name will be presented in the very first session of the legislature, linking the state’s identity to its historical roots. In the same briefing, Bhattacharya dismissed claims that opposition leaders feel intimidated, targeting Rahul Gandhi and lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s connection with young voters.

He also defended the Assam government’s decision to merge the State Madrasa Education Board with the School Service Commission, describing it as essential for inclusive education under the central New Education Policy. The statements reflect the BJP’s broader push to standardise nomenclature and education standards across states.