- Monday, May 05, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
WITH its fate hanging in balance, the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi or Maharahstra Development Front) government of Maharashtra on Wednesday (29) approved the renaming of Aurangabad city as Sambhajinagar and that of Osmanabad city as Dharashiv.
The decision of renaming the historical city of Maharashtra came at a cabinet meeting even as the Shiv Sena, which rules the MVA coalition government, is facing a rebellion by most of its lawmakers, putting the existence of the government under question.
The meeting was chaired by the state’s beleaguered chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, and it also approved the naming of the upcoming airport in Navi Mumbai after the late farmer leader, BD Patil.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had often reminded the Sena, its old political ally, about renaming Aurangabad, which derives its name from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Indian National Congress, which is a junior partner of Sena in the MVA government, had also demanded in the cabinet meeting that the city of Pune be named as Jijau Nagar – after the mother of Chhatrpati Shivaji, a Maharashtrian hero, and Mumbai Trans Harbour link between Sewree and Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai after former chief minister A R Antulay. But these demands were apparently not considered.
The Sena-led government’s renaming cities at the time when its existence is under threat was slammed by the BJP.
CT Ravi, the saffron party’s national general secretary, mocked Thackeray over the renaming, saying on Twitter, “Can’t stop laughing at the decision taken by the Maha Vasooli Aghadi government to rename Aurangabad as #Sambhajinagar. After indulging in “secular politics” for the last three years, CM Uddhav Thackeray is trying to prove his Hindutva credentials in his last cabinet meeting.”
Can't stop laughing at the decision taken by the Maha Vasooli Aghadi government to rename Aurangabad as #Sambhajinagar.
After indulging in "secular politics" for the last three years, CM Uddhav Thackeray is trying to prove his Hindutva credentials in his last cabinet meeting.
— C T Ravi ?? ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) June 29, 2022
Veteran Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said in a tweet that the renaming of the two cities perhaps was the last decision taken by the MVA government and even a state government led by the BJP will not choose to change it.
“Possibly the last decision taken by the Shiv Sena led MVA govt: Aurangabad is now Sambhaji nagar! That’s one decision which even a BJP led govt won’t choose to change!” he said.
Possibly the last decision taken by the Shiv Sena led MVA govt: Aurangabad is now Sambhaji nagar! That’s one decision which even a BJP led govt won’t choose to change! ?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 29, 2022
