- Lok Sabha passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, by voice vote.
- The Bill proposes changing the state’s name from Kerala to Keralam.
- The legislation was passed without debate amid opposition sloganeering.
- Kerala Assembly had unanimously supported the proposed name change.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th Aug: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, proposing to change the name of the state from Kerala to Keralam.
The Bill was passed by voice vote without a debate as Opposition MPs continued their protests in the House. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, who moved the legislation, took a swipe at Congress MPs from Kerala for not participating in the discussion.
“It seems the Congress MPs are not in favour of the renaming,” Rai said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised the Congress, saying he was disappointed that Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, who represents Kerala, could not participate in the discussion.
The legislation was passed amid Opposition demands for the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House over alleged police excesses against student protesters in Delhi on July 20.
The Bill seeks to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution to replace the name Kerala with Keralam, in accordance with Article 3 of the Constitution.
Kerala Assembly Had Backed Name Change
The Kerala government had forwarded a resolution passed by the state Assembly to the Centre in June 2024, seeking the change in the state’s name.
The state Assembly had subsequently adopted a unanimous resolution supporting the proposed change after the matter was referred to it for its views.
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid Opposition protests.
According to the Bill’s statement of objects and reasons, the legislation provides for the alteration of the state’s name and contains the necessary constitutional and consequential amendments.
