West Bengal seeks to rename state as ‘Bangla’

KOLKATA: With all parties in the state approving a name-change in the assembly, West Bengal seems to be a step closer to becoming 'Bangla'. According to a leader of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress, it will be 'Bangla' in all languages. A similar move had been stalled two years ago, after the Mamata Banerjee government cleared a new name with three versions- Bangla in Bengali, Bangaal in Hindi and Bengal in English. The centre suggested one uniform name. Banerjee has had her own motive in angling for a new name for her state. One of her reasons is that West Bengal comes last in state lists, meaning the CM gets to speak last in meetings, or often, not at all. The new name needs the centre's clearance.