Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Demands to Rename Ahmednagar as Ahilya Nagar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now demanded to rename Ahmednagar as Ahilya Nagar.

This development came days after the Maharashtra government approved to rename Aurangabad and Osmanabad as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Dharashiv respectively on February 24.

Raising the demand, BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar, while talking to media stated that Ahmednagar City name must be changed to Ahilya Nagar. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have changed the name of Aurangabad and Osmanabad after a demand raised by everyone. Following that people are also demanding of changing the name of Ahmednagar to Ahilya Nagar.

 “I am confident that a decision on the renaming of Ahmednagar will be taken under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis,” he added.

"Thanks and congratulations to the Shinde-Fadnavis government for renaming Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv. @Dev_Fadnavis will be under the leadership of G. @BJP4Maharashtra @mieknathshinde," Tweeted Padalkar in Marathi.

The name change is proposed as Ahilyabai Holkar, the hereditary noble queen of the Maratha Empire, was born in Chondi village of Ahmednagar district.

Fadnavis also attached the letter of approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It is pertinent to note that the Shiv Sena had been trying long to change the names. 

"'Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar' of Aurangabad, 'Dharashiv' of Osmanabad! The central government approves the decision of the state government! Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and Union Minister Hon. Many thanks to Amitbhai Shah! The government under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ji has 'demonstrated'...!" he said in a tweet.