Thiruvananthapuram: Raj Bhavan across India will be renamed Lok Bhavan, with Kerala’s Raj Bhavan expected to receive its new name on Monday. An official announcement will be made once Governor Rajendra Arlekar returns to the state capital on Sunday.

The move follows a suggestion made by Governor Arlekar at the 2024 Governors Conference in the presence of the President, advocating that all Raj Bhavan be renamed Lok Bhavan. Subsequently, the Union Home Ministry issued a notification on November 25 instructing that all Raj Bhavans and Raj Niwas, the official residences of Lieutenant Governors, be renamed Lok Bhavan and Lok Niwas, respectively. On Saturday, the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata and Darjeeling in West Bengal, where Malayali CV Ananda Bose serves as Governor, were renamed.

The term “Raj Bhavan” historically refers to the residence of the ruler, while “Lok Bhavan” denotes the residence of the people.

Officials say the rebranding initiative by the NDA government aims to make Raj Bhavan more accessible and increase the visibility of governors in the states. BJP-aligned governors have already begun organising events at these residences to engage directly with the public.