West Bengal likely to be renamed 'Paschim Banga', says BJP leader

The BJP's state chief Samik Bhattacharya said West Bengal is likely to be renamed 'Paschim Banga', reigniting the decades-old discussion around changing the state's official designation.

The name-change debate has been contentious in Bengal for years. The ruling Trinamool Congress government had previously mooted renaming the state to simply 'Bangla'. The BJP's latest statement suggests renewed momentum behind an alternative nomenclature.

No formal proposal or timeline for such a change has been announced by the state or central government.