ibn sultan
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the Kerala government’s proposal to officially rename the southern state of Kerala as ‘Keralam’, a significant move that comes just months before the upcoming Assembly elections.
The decision was reportedly cleared during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister at Seva Teerth, the newly inaugurated Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) building in Delhi. This marked the first Cabinet session held at the new venue since the previous meeting at South Block on February 13.
Resolution Passed Twice by State Assembly
The had unanimously passed the resolution for the second time on June 25, 2024, urging the Centre to officially change the state’s name to ‘Keralam’.
The earlier resolution, adopted in August 2023, had also received unanimous support. However, the Centre had suggested certain technical modifications for clarity and constitutional compliance, prompting the state government to reintroduce the motion.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s Stand
Chief Minister , who moved the resolution, requested the Union government to rename the state as ‘Keralam’ in all languages listed under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Vijayan emphasized that the state is referred to as ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam and that the name is deeply rooted in the region’s history and cultural identity. He also pointed out that while ‘Kerala’ appears in the First Schedule of the Constitution, the demand reflects the long-standing aspiration for a united Malayalam-speaking state, dating back to the national freedom movement.
Constitutional Amendment Under Article 3
The Assembly urged the Centre to initiate steps under Article 3 of the Constitution to amend the state’s name to ‘Keralam’ and ensure its adoption across all languages included in the Eighth Schedule.
With the Cabinet’s approval now granted, the proposal is expected to move forward in the constitutional process for formal implementation.
