Kolkata: The West Bengal Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a proposal to change the name of the state to either ‘Bangla’ or ‘Bongo’ in Bengali and ‘Bengal’ in English.
Trinamool Congress leader and state education minister Partha Chaterjee said a special assembly session will be convened on August 26 to discuss the name change.
"For the sake of the people of the state, its heritage and culture as well as to promote and protect its interests at the national level, we have proposed to rename West Bengal as Bengal in English and 'Banga' or Bangla in Bengali," Chatterjee told the media.
“Welcome the name change, but name should not be bongo, that is a musical instrument,” said Union Minister Babul Supriyo.
In August 2011, the TMC had decided to rename the state as “Paschimbanga” in English. All opposition parties had agreed to the name change back then.
