Akhilesh Slams UP Government Over Bhadohi Renaming, Calls It 'Politics of Names'

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday criticized the Yogi Adityanath -led Uttar Pradesh government over its decision to restore Bhadohi district's earlier name, Sant Ravidas Nagar, calling it another instance of the BJP's "politics of changing names" ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Reacting to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's announcement in Varanasi, Yadav said the ruling party's "game of changing names" would soon end because people were preparing to change the government. "Those who can even change the names of deities, what can you expect from them? This game of changing names will now end because people are ready to change the government," the former chief minister told reporters.

The announcement came during the BJP's 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan', a Dalit outreach campaign launched in Varanasi. Adityanath said restoring the district's original name was a tribute to Sant Ravidas on the occasion of the saint's 650th birth anniversary year. He also accused the SP of admiring historical figures such as Babur and Aurangzeb and alleged that the party sought to divide society.

The district, carved out of Varanasi, had been renamed Bhadohi by the Samajwadi Party government on December 6, 2014. The latest reversal has reignited debate over the politics of renaming places, a recurring feature of India's political landscape.

Supporters of such decisions argue that restoring traditional names honours cultural icons, preserves historical legacy, and strengthens regional identity. Critics, however, view frequent name changes as symbolic politics that shifts public attention away from governance and development challenges.

With Uttar Pradesh heading towards the 2027 Assembly elections, the renaming of Sant Ravidas Nagar has become part of a broader political contest in which history, identity, caste, and cultural symbolism are increasingly shaping electoral discourse alongside issues of governance and public welfare.