MGNREGA renaming protest puts Congress in spot as Gandhinagar ward becomes Nehru ward in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The Congress’ aggressive campaign against the Centre over the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has taken an awkward turn in Karnataka, with the party facing allegations of double standards after a Bengaluru ward bearing Mahatma Gandhi’s name was quietly renamed after Jawaharlal Nehru.

The controversy erupted after BJP MP P C Mohan shared official documents on social media showing that the Gandhinagar Ward, which existed earlier under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has now been renamed as Nehru Ward during the recent ward reorganisation linked to the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The move has drawn sharp political reactions, coming at a time when the Congress is leading protests across the country accusing the Union government of “erasing” Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.

Taking a swipe at the ruling party, Mohan said the Congress had no moral right to protest against the Centre’s decision. “Congress is crying foul over the renaming of MGNREGA, claiming it is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi. But in Bengaluru, under a Congress government, Gandhi’s name has been removed from a ward and replaced with Nehru. This is the same act they are opposing at the national level,” he alleged.

He further said Gandhi’s name should not be used selectively for political convenience. “If Congress truly respects Gandhiji, it should show consistency. Gandhiji’s legacy should stand for honesty and principles, not opportunistic politics,” Mohan added.

Administrative change or political message?

According to officials, the ward name change occurred as part of the restructuring exercise ahead of the rollout of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, which involved redrawing and renaming several wards. Earlier, Gandhinagar Ward was part of the Bengaluru Central zone under BBMP. Following the reorganisation, the ward has been renamed Nehru Ward, though it continues to fall under the Gandhinagar Assembly constituency.

While the government has not issued a detailed public explanation for the specific name change, the timing has fuelled political speculation and criticism, particularly in the context of the MGNREGA controversy.

Congress ups the ante against Centre

The development comes even as the Congress government in Karnataka has intensified its protest against the Centre’s decision to rename MGNREGA as VB–G RAM. The ruling party has accused the Union government of deliberately removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from one of the country’s most significant welfare schemes aimed at rural employment.

As part of its campaign, the state government has announced a special legislature session and plans for statewide protests, including padayatras at the gram panchayat level. Senior Congress leaders have described the renaming as an ideological attack and a dilution of Gandhian values.

Social media criticism mounts

The ward renaming has triggered a wave of criticism on social media, with many users questioning the Congress’ consistency. Several posts sarcastically congratulated the party for its “commitment” to Gandhi while removing his name at the local level. Others demanded clarity from the state government on why the name was changed and whether similar decisions were taken elsewhere.

With the BJP sharpening its attack and the Congress yet to offer a clear response, the Gandhinagar-to-Nehru ward renaming has added a new dimension to the MGNREGA debate, complicating the ruling party’s narrative in Karnataka.