Yogi Adityanath’s plan to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj draws protest and praise

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s announcement that Allahabad will be renamed Prayagraj has been opposed by the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, and has divided opinion among academics, writers, lawyers and politicians in the Sangam city. The Chief Minister made the declaration on Saturday.

Political reaction

The Congress argued that the change would erode Allahabad’s place in the history of the freedom movement. SP president Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday that the move showed the government’s habit of renaming things, and tweeted that the present rulers were trying to appear busy simply by changing names. “This is toying with tradition and belief,” he said, referring also to the renaming of Ardh Kumbh as Kumbh.

State minister and government spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said people’s feelings had been hurt when the city was called Allahabad, described the objections as baseless and said the government could rename more cities and roads if needed. Some residents welcomed the decision, while others called it a political stunt ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The proposal was to go to the cabinet for approval and then to the governor, though Governor Ram Naik had already backed it when the Kumbh Margdarshak Mandal met on Saturday. Earlier BJP governments led by Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh had tried to rename the city Prayag, but allies objected.

Seers and scholars

Saints and seers praised the move, saying the city was regaining its ancient name. The Akhada Parishad had raised the demand with the Chief Minister last year and he had promised to meet it before the Kumbh Mela 2019. Parishad president Narendra Giri said the Ramcharit Manas refers to Prayagraj, and Omkar Giri of the Beni Madhav temple called the change welcome.

Prof Yogeshwar Tiwari of Allahabad University said Emperor Akbar named the city Ilahabas in 1574, while ancient texts call it Prayag. His colleague Prof Harsh Kumar disagreed, saying Prayag was a pilgrimage centre rather than a city and that the name Allahabad reflected a mixed culture linked to Akbar’s Deen-e-Ilahi.

Congress leader Baba Abhay Awasthi said the change would make no difference, writer Mamta Kalia said the government should focus on other problems, and the Advocates Association of India condemned the decision, arguing that the Prayagraj name should have been limited to the Triveni and Sangam area.

See also: Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha members

Originally published on 18 October 2018. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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