Aurangabad Name Row Returns: Sujat Ambedkar Demands Pune Be Renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Sujat Ambedkar Revives Aurangabad Name Debate, Calls for Pune to Be Renamed SambhajinagarThe political debate over the renaming of Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has resurfaced in Maharashtra after Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Sujat Ambedkar made a fresh statement on the issue.

Ambedkar said that Aurangabad should continue to be called Aurangabad, while suggesting that Pune should instead be renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. His remarks were made while discussing the broader issue of city names, caste politics and historical references. 

Explaining his position, Ambedkar reportedly referred to his personal connection with Pune, saying that he was born there and completed part of his education in the city. He also questioned the rationale behind naming a city after a historical ruler and argued that, if such a naming principle were to be followed, the name Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar could be associated with Pune. 

His comments have once again brought the politically sensitive issue of city renaming into the spotlight. Maharashtra has already officially changed the name of the city of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. A Maharashtra government notification dated February 24, 2023 records that the Union Home Ministry approved the proposal and that the state government ordered the change. 

The renaming has also been reflected in the names of the city's wider administrative areas. A later notification changed the names of the former Aurangabad Division, district, sub-division and taluka to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The Bombay High Court has dealt with petitions challenging aspects of these renaming notifications. 

Ambedkar's latest remarks have drawn political reactions. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Sandeep Deshpande reportedly dismissed the statement as an attempt to gain publicity, adding another political dimension to the controversy. 

The renewed debate comes amid continuing political disagreements in Maharashtra over historical names, identity and the priorities of urban governance. While supporters of renaming campaigns have framed them around historical and cultural identity, opponents have questioned the need for such changes and argued that development and civic issues should remain central.

For now, Ambedkar's proposal is a political statement rather than an announced government decision. There has been no indication in the reports cited above of any official move to rename Pune.