The Kerala Assembly unanimously approved the Presidential reference on the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, bringing the state a step closer to officially adopting the name "Keralam." The decision marks a significant milestone in the long-pending effort to align the state's official name with its usage in the Malayalam language and regional identity.

The approval assumes added significance as it is the first unanimous resolution passed by the newly elected Assembly. Members across the political spectrum, including the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA), extended their support to all 10 provisions of the proposed legislation, reflecting rare political consensus on the issue.

The bill was referred to the Kerala Assembly by President Droupadi Murmu on June 17, seeking the legislature's views before the legislative process could move forward. This also marked the first occasion on which the Kerala Assembly received a Presidential reference of this nature, making the proceedings an important constitutional exercise for the state legislature.

The proposal is part of the state's broader initiative to replace the English name "Kerala" with "Keralam" in all official, administrative and legal records. The move is intended to ensure that the state's name in English corresponds with the name traditionally used in Malayalam and other Indian languages.

Following the Assembly's approval, the bill will proceed through the remaining legislative formalities before the proposed name change takes legal effect. Once the process is completed, the name "Keralam" will be used in official documents, government communications and legal proceedings across the country.

Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who placed the Presidential reference before the House for consideration, described the development as an important chapter in the state's legislative history. He noted that the Assembly had previously adopted a resolution seeking the name change and that the Union government subsequently initiated the necessary constitutional process. He also highlighted that the unanimous endorsement by all political parties demonstrated broad support for the proposal and reflected the aspirations associated with the state's cultural and linguistic identity.

The Assembly's decision represents another major step towards formally recognising "Keralam" as the state's official name, subject to the completion of the remaining constitutional procedures.