The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved the renaming of the neighboring Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South, marking a significant administrative change in the region. Despite the new name, Ramanagara town will continue to serve as the district headquarters.
Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar, whose home district is Ramanagara, announced the decision, emphasizing that the renaming was in accordance with all legal provisions. “Ramanagara was originally part of Bengaluru district, and today the cabinet decided to name it Bengaluru South district. The order will be issued soon. This is happy news for Bengaluru South,” he said.
The newly named district will comprise the taluks of Magadi, Kanakapura, Channapatna, Harohalli, along with Ramanagara. Shivakumar reassured that there will be no financial implications, and all land records and official documents will be updated accordingly.
The renaming has been a long-pending proposal championed by Shivakumar, who also represents the Kanakapura Assembly constituency in the district. He emphasized the importance of preserving the Bengaluru identity for the region as it continues to develop rapidly.
Addressing concerns over the Centre’s role, Shivakumar clarified, “Informing the Centre was mandatory, but the central government has no powers on this issue. Renaming districts is a state subject.”
The opposition has criticized the move, questioning whether a name change alone will drive development. Responding to this, Shivakumar said, “Let them wait and see.”
Notably, the proposal has political undertones. The Ramanagara district was carved out in 2007 during the tenure of former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S), who had threatened protests against the renaming. Kumaraswamy’s political influence in Ramanagara remains significant, having represented the region multiple times as an MLA and MP.
The Cabinet’s decision marks a new chapter for Ramanagara, now Bengaluru South, as the region looks forward to further growth and integration with the metropolitan area.