Shashi Tharoor Slams Centre Over Kerala Name Change

MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the Union Cabinet’s decision to officially rename Kerala as ‘Keralam.’ He criticized the Central Government, suggesting they are more focused on renaming states than on actual development. 

Tharoor pointed out a perceived lack of support for the state in recent years. "The Centre has not granted a single AIIMS or any new educational institutions to Kerala. Not a single major project was allocated in the budget. However, when it comes to changing a name, they approve it instantly," Tharoor remarked sarcastically. 

"Bacteria or Minerals?" Tharoor also raised linguistic concerns, noting that while the state is already called 'Keralam' in Malayalam, forcing that phonetic version into English is unnecessary. He used his signature wit to highlight the awkwardness of the new nomenclature: "What should we call the people of Kerala now? If we say ‘Keralamite,’ it sounds like a strain of bacteria. If we say ‘Keralamian,’ it sounds like a mineral," Tharoor joked.

The decision follows a resolution passed by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the State Assembly, requesting that the name be changed to 'Keralam' across all Indian languages. The Union Cabinet, led by PM Narendra Modi, approved this resolution on Tuesday. The timing of this approval has gained political significance as the state prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections.