BJP backs LDF move to rename Kerala ‘Keralam’, seeks PM Modi’s intervention Stating that the BJP's ideology is grounded in protecting and respecting linguistic culture and traditions, he said the party has always seen the state as 'Keralam' with thousands of years of tradition, heritage and culture that it representsOur Web Desk & PTIThe Kerala unit of the BJP has extended support to the LDF government’s proposal to rename the state “Keralam” and has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to formalise the change. Party state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote separate letters to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, outlining the BJP’s position on the issue. In his letter to the Prime Minister, he noted that the Kerala Legislative Assembly had already passed a resolution seeking to change the state’s name in official records from “Kerala” to “Keralam”. The Kerala assembly, in August 2024, had unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to officially change the state's name to 'Keralam'. Presenting the resolution, the CM had said that the state was called 'Keralam' in Malayalam, but in other languages it was still Kerala.

Source: The Telegraph January 13, 2026 09:06 UTC