The Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stepped up its support for the proposal to officially rename the state from “Kerala” to “Keralam” by seeking the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar confirmed on Tuesday that he has written to the Prime Minister, urging the Centre to take forward the long-pending proposal in line with the sentiments expressed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
In his communication, Chandrasekhar argued that the name “Keralam” more authentically reflects the state’s linguistic roots, cultural heritage, and historical identity. He noted that the Malayalam term has long been used by the people of the state and carries deeper civilisational significance than the anglicised version currently in official use.
The BJP leader also expressed optimism that all political parties in Kerala would come together to support initiatives aimed at preserving and revitalising the state’s traditions. According to Chandrasekhar, cultural conservation should go hand in hand with development and social harmony. He underlined the party’s vision of building a “Vikasitha Keralam” (developed Kerala) and a “Surakshitha Keralam” (secure Kerala), where progress does not come at the cost of respecting the beliefs and customs of diverse religious and social groups. These themes, he pointed out, form the core of the BJP’s political messaging in the state ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Highlighting the legislative background, Chandrasekhar referred to the 2024 resolution unanimously adopted by the Kerala Assembly, which recommended a Constitutional amendment to rename the state as “Keralam” in all official documents. Implementing the change would require action under Article 3 of the Constitution and an amendment to the First Schedule.
In addition to writing to the Prime Minister, Chandrasekhar said he has also reached out to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, conveying the BJP’s formal support for the Assembly resolution. He maintained that the issue transcends party politics and should be viewed as a collective effort to honour Kerala’s identity while moving forward on the path of inclusive development and cultural preservation.