The development comes months before the state heads into assembly elections, expected before May. The Election Commission has not yet announced a polling date.
What is being proposed
The Kerala Assembly has twice passed a resolution asking the Centre to amend the Constitution and replace the name ‘Kerala’ with ‘Keralam’ in official records.
The Assembly first passed the resolution in August 2023. It was taken up again on June 25, 2024, after the Union Home Ministry suggested technical corrections. The revised resolution was cleared unanimously.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan moved the resolution, invoking Article 3 of the Constitution, which deals with alteration of state names and boundaries, The Hindu reported.
“The name of our state is written as Kerala in the First Schedule of the Constitution. This assembly requests the Centre to take immediate steps to amend it as ‘Keralam’ under Article 3,” Vijayan said while introducing the measure.
He added that ‘Keralam’ is the name used in Malayalam and that the idea of a unified state for Malayalam-speaking people dates back to the freedom struggle.
Earlier this year, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Kerala BJP President, also wrote a letter supporting Vijayan. “For us, #VikasitaKeralam, #SurakshitaKeralam, and #VishwasaSamrakshanam are not just slogans. They are our mission,” he wrote.
Thank you for your letter, CM @pinarayivijayan ji.
The name Keralam reflects our history, our language, and our roots. Restoring it is a step towards honouring our heritage.The BJP/NDA has always stood for protecting Keralam’s traditions, culture, and faith. Unfortunately,… pic.twitter.com/tnCoOfqwam
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar ???????? (@RajeevRC_X) January 24, 2026
The request also seeks to update the name in all languages listed under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Cabinet meeting at Seva Teerth
Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting is also notable for another reason. It will be the first held at Seva Teerth, the new Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Secretariat complex, TOI reported.
Union ministers have reportedly been asked to arrive early, as a photo session is expected before proceedings begin. The previous Cabinet meeting was held on February 13 at South Block, just before the shift.
What happens next
If the Union Cabinet approves the proposal, the Centre needs to bring forward a Constitutional amendment bill in Parliament. Only after parliamentary approval does the name change take effect in official documents.
For now, the decision rests with the Cabinet. The outcome is expected to be closely watched, particularly in Kerala, where the debate over ‘Kerala’ versus ‘Keralam’ has been framed as a matter of linguistic identity rather than administrative change. The final word is yet to come.
