Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday (September 11, 2025) sharply criticised Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah for his proposal to rename Bengaluru’s Shivajinagar Metro station after St. Mary. Fadnavis alleged that the move was an “insult” to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and accused the Congress government of attempting to drive a wedge between communities.
Fadnavis condemns renaming move
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis said he was “pained but not surprised” by the Congress government’s stance.
“I strongly condemn the decision to rename Shivajinagar station as St. Mary station. What the Karnataka Congress government is trying to do is insult Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The tradition of insulting Shivaji Maharaj has existed in Congress since pre-Independence times. Even Jawaharlal Nehru, in his book Discovery of India, made such remarks against Maharaj,” Fadnavis said.
He further accused Siddaramaiah of “setting up an alternative religious system” and “drawing a wedge between communities.” Fadnavis added, “The country saw Swarajya because of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. To replace his name with another is unacceptable. I pray to God to give good sense to the Congress Chief Minister so that he does not do it.”
Shiv Sena UBT appeals for reconsideration
The Shiv Sena (UBT), an ally of the Congress, also urged Siddaramaiah to rethink the proposal. Party spokesperson Anand Dubey said the move would hurt the sentiments of people across Maharashtra and beyond.
“We want to tell the Karnataka Chief Minister — you are our neighbour, our ally. Please keep the name after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This is about our self-respect. Maharashtra and Karnataka have always enjoyed good relations. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is revered not just in Maharashtra but across India. If you fail to respect this sentiment, history will not forgive you,” Dubey said.
At the same time, Dubey cautioned the BJP against politicising the issue. “The BJP has no moral right to speak about Shivaji Maharaj. They have not even completed the monument in the Arabian Sea. They should stop using his name for political gains,” he added.
Background to the controversy
The Shivajinagar Metro station is part of the upcoming Pink Line of Bengaluru’s Namma Metro. Located near key landmarks such as Commercial Street, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, and St. Mary’s Basilica, the underground station is expected to be operational next year.
The controversy began on September 8, 2025, when Siddaramaiah, attending the annual feast celebrations at St. Mary’s Basilica, announced that the state government would recommend renaming the station after St. Mary, subject to approval from the Centre.
While Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended the move, saying “there is nothing wrong with the request,” political backlash has grown from both the BJP and Maharashtra leaders.
BMRCL yet to respond
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which oversees construction and operations of the metro, has so far not issued any official statement on the renaming proposal.
With political tempers rising across state borders, the issue is fast emerging as both a matter of religious sensitivity and historical pride.