In the Pink City of Jaipur, the Municipal Corporation, just a few days before the end of its tenure, has made a major decision to rename several roads, squares, bridges, and parks in the city. The new names have been given in honor of great personalities and eminent figures.
Jaipur: The politics of renaming has once again heated up in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (Greater), before the end of its tenure, has decided to rename nearly 40 prominent locations in the city, including roads, squares, bridges, and parks. Among these, the most talked-about is the bridge that was known as 'Bharat Jodo Setu' three years ago. This bridge has now been renamed 'Sardar Patel Elevated Bridge'.
As soon as this decision was made public, the BJP and Congress came face-to-face. The Congress termed it a "political act of revenge," while the BJP argued that the step was taken "to honor great personalities."
40 Locations Renamed in Municipal Corporation's Last Meeting
This proposal was passed in the last meeting of the Jaipur Greater Municipal Corporation. Under this, the Bharat Jodo Elevated Bridge has now been named after 'Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel'. Additionally, Central Park and Tonk Road have been named after former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who was a prominent figure in Rajasthan politics.
In the same meeting, it was also decided that the sports complex being built in Ramniwas Bagh would be named after RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. The names of three major squares have also been changed, which will now be known as Parshuram Circle, Chitragupt Circle, and Khatu Shyam Circle.
Congress Alleges 'Politics of Renaming' to Conceal Failures
The Congress party has reacted sharply to this decision by the Municipal Corporation. The party states that the BJP government could not undertake any substantial development work during its tenure, which is why it is now resorting to the politics of renaming. Swarnim Chaturvedi, General Secretary and Media In-charge of Rajasthan Congress, said,
'The BJP government is changing the names of places and sites in the city to hide its failures. Renaming 'Bharat Jodo Setu' is an attack on the ideology of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which conveyed the message of uniting the country.'
Congress leaders stated that the Bharat Jodo Setu was named by the Ashok Gehlot government in 2022 in honor of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, and therefore, its renaming feels like an "act of political vendetta."
BJP Retorts: New Names Given in Honor of Great Personalities
Responding to the allegations by Congress, Dr. Soumya Gurjar, Mayor of Jaipur Greater Municipal Corporation, stated that this decision is not politically motivated. The Municipal Corporation has the right to rename places in honor of great personalities. Sardar Patel worked to unite India, so naming 'Bharat Jodo Setu' after him is appropriate.
She also mentioned that Central Park and Tonk Road had no official names. Therefore, they have been dedicated in the name of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who gave a new identity to Rajasthan. According to Mayor Soumya Gurjar, councillors present proposals in Municipal Corporation meetings based on public suggestions, and naming is done accordingly. She stated that "it is not appropriate to politicize such matters."
Impact on Electoral Politics in Rajasthan
This act of renaming has brought a new turn to Rajasthan's politics. Amidst the buzz of upcoming municipal corporation elections and assembly by-elections in the state, this decision has become a major political issue for both parties. The Congress is calling it "BJP's symbolic politics," while the BJP is terming it a tradition of "honoring culture and nation-builders."
Political analysts suggest that this dispute in Jaipur could play a significant role in setting the electoral agenda, as renaming has now become a symbol not just of administration but also of identity and ideology.
