According to Minister HK Patil, the name was changed based on the opinion of MLAs and important people of the region.
Published Jul 26, 2024 | 6:53 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 26, 2024 | 7:00 PM
DK Shivakumar-led delegation submitting proposal to rename Ramanagara to Bengaluru South. (File picture)
The Karnataka Cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, 26 July, gave its nod to rename the Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South.
The proposal to rename the district consisting of Ramanagara, Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna and Harohalli taluks had gained steam recently with a Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar-led delegation meeting Siddaramaiah and submitting him a memorandum to raise the pitch 0n 9 July.
“The Cabinet has given nod for the remaining of Ramanagara district as the Bengaluru South district. The taluks will remain the same. It is only the name has been changed and rest will remain the same,” Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil told reporters.
“It has been decided to change the name because of Brand Bengaluru and demand from the local people. Ramanagara district was itself part of Bengaluru district earlier. The Revenue Department will start the process,” Patil said.
He added that the name was changed based on the opinion of MLAs and important people of the region.
On whether the renaming was done “keeping real estate in mind,” he said: “if asset’s value goes up it is beneficial for the dwellers there…this proves our decision is right and is favourable to people in Ramanagra district; we will be satisfying public emotion also.”
Ramanagara is the home district of Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief. He represents Kanakapura Assembly segment in the district, and had first mooted the proposal in October last year.
Meanwhile, Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy opposed the renaming and said that the JD(S) would change it back to Ramanagara once they come back to power.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that the motive behind the proposal was to exploit real estate opportunities there.
Kumaraswamy was the chief minister of the JD(S)-BJP coalition, when Ramanagara district was carved out in August 2007.
Ramanagara district is the political turf of Kumaraswamy as he has represented Ramanagara and Channapatna Assembly segments, and also had been an MP from the region.
The renaming of the district has gained significance ahead of Channapatna Assembly by-poll — the date for which is yet to be announced — necessitated following Kumaraswamy’s election to Lok Sabha from Mandya.
(With PTI inputs. Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
