NDA government changed Kerala to Keralam following long demand of Malayalis: PM Modi

KOCHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it was the NDA government that changed the state’s name from Kerala to Keralam. He was speaking while inaugurating the closing ceremony of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha held at Marine Drive in Kochi.

Modi said the central government approved the change of name following a long-standing demand from the Malayalis. He also praised the activities carried out by the Dheevara Sabha for the protection of the sea and remembered social reformer Pandit Karuppan on the stage. The Prime Minister also praised fishermen who risked their lives to help people during floods, saying they are the ones who protect the country’s sea borders.

This was the first event Modi attended after arriving in Keralam earlier in the morning. He will later take part in an official programme of the central government at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor, where he will inaugurate development projects worth Rs 10,000 crore.

After that, he will address another event at the same venue to launch the NDA’s election rally in the state. The rally will mark the official start of the NDA’s campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections. Following the programmes, Modi will travel to Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu.