The process of naming and renaming wards in Bengaluru's five city corporations has proven to be far more than a simple administrative task. It is a deeply significant exercise that shapes local identity, drawing from history, culture, and respected figures. However, a recent move by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to finalise names for 368 wards backfired, sparking significant public pushback and political friction due to a perceived lack of transparency and community consultation.
Public Outcry Forces Late-Night Revisions
Just days after notifying the final delimitation list on November 19, the GBA found itself embroiled in controversy. The civic body was flooded with objections from residents, public representatives, and stakeholders concerning both the newly assigned ward names and their boundary demarcations. The volume of concerns was so substantial that it prompted an unusual late-night revision on the following Monday.
Many citizens argued that several neighbourhoods had been incorrectly detached from their natural or historical clusters in the new boundary maps. In response, the state government intervened to realign certain ward boundaries, aiming to preserve localities with a shared identity within the same ward limits.
Key Changes in Ward Nomenclature
Through a corrigendum to its original notification, the GBA announced changes to the names of at least 13 wards. The revisions were not evenly distributed across the city corporations.
The East city corporation saw the highest number of changes, with six ward names altered. This was followed by the North and West city corporations, each with three revisions, and the South city corporation with one change. Interestingly, the Central city corporation's ward names remained untouched.
Among the most contentious changes was the naming of Ward No. 2 in the North city corporation as 'Aakash Ward'. Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath publicly questioned whether the name referred to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's son, demanding an official clarification. Following the allegations, GBA officials renamed it 'Aerocity Ward'. They maintained the original name was coincidental, inspired by the nearby Jakkur Aerodrome and Indian Air Force base, but changed it to reflect regional aviation activity after the objections.
Notable Name Reversals and Retentions
Another significant revision occurred in the North City Corporation. Ward No. 03, initially renamed 'Raja Kempegowda Ward', was restored to its original name 'Chowdeshwari'. Meanwhile, the former Yelahanka Old Town Ward (01) was redesignated as 'Raja Kempegowda', honouring Yelahanka as the birthplace of Bengaluru's founder, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda.
In the East city corporation, Ward No. 36 (Varthur) went from being initially christened 'Bharat Jodo Ward' to 'Bharat Aikya', a name that has been retained in the latest notification.
A senior city minister acknowledged the challenges in the naming process. He stated that the government made a conscious effort to name wards after rulers, poets, and well-known personalities to honour their contributions to the city's heritage. In some cases, wards also bear the names of veteran political leaders recognized for their public service.
The episode underscores that in a city like Bengaluru, ward names are a powerful marker of local identity. When the process lacks inclusive public engagement, it inevitably leads to controversy, forcing authorities into reactive corrections, as seen with the GBA's late-night revisions.
