New Delhi: Carved out of Varanasi in 1994, Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh’s carpet hub, has been caught in a relentless 30-year identity tug-of-war. Now, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announcing that that the district would once again be known as Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi, the changing name is becoming a tactical political move ahead of the crucial 2027 assembly elections in the state.
The chief minister had announced the proposed renaming of Bhadohi on the same occasion. The BJP has also taken several organisational steps aimed at strengthening its reach among SCs in the state. It also appointed regional presidents for all six organisational regions – western UP, Braj, Kanpur, Awadh, Kashi and Gorakhpur.
The announcement was made on October 4 at a programme in Bhadohi. He also announced 112 development projects worth more than Rs 1,340 crore at the event. The programme is scheduled to run until Sant Ravidas’ birth anniversary on February 20, 2027. On October 1, the party announced a 43-member state team for its SC Morcha.
Yogi said the district, known for its carpet industry, would now be named after Sant Ravidas.
It was initially named Bhadohi. The name was associated with Sant Ravidas, the 15th-16th century saint whose birthplace is traditionally identified as Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi. The BJP government headed by Ram Prakash Gupta adopted Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi, bringing the old name back along with Sant Ravidas Nagar. The Bhadohi name also held importance for the region’s carpet industry. The next change came after the Samajwadi Party (SP) returned to power in the state. That name was used for the district until Yogi’s latest announcement.
Bhadohi was separated from Varanasi on June 30, 1994, during the Mulayam Singh Yadav government. The first major change came in December 1997, when the Mayawati government renamed it Sant Ravidas Nagar. The name changed again in November 1999. In December 2014, the Akhilesh Yadav government restored the name Bhadohi.
