Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dinesh Sharma has stirred a fresh debate over renaming roads in Delhi by changing the nameplate of his newly allotted residence at Tughlaq Lane to Swami Vivekananda Marg. The move has drawn attention amid growing demands within the BJP to rename several historical locations in the national capital.
Dinesh Sharma recently performed the ‘Griha Pravesh’ (housewarming ceremony) at his official residence in Delhi and shared images of the occasion on social media. The pictures prominently displayed his house address as “6–Swami Vivekananda Marg (Tughlaq Lane),” indicating his intent to emphasize the new name over the original one. Though he did not explicitly announce the name change, the move has been interpreted as a symbolic push for renaming efforts.
This comes at a time when several BJP leaders have called for renaming various parts of Delhi. BJP MP Krishan Pal Gurjar has also followed suit by referring to his residence as Swami Vivekananda Marg. The debate over renaming roads in the capital is not new. In 2015, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officially renamed Tughlaq Road as Abdul Kalam Road in honor of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. However, Tughlaq Lane, which was named after Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, had retained its original name until now.
The renaming drive has gained momentum following the BJP’s return to power in Delhi after 27 years. Party legislators have made fresh demands to rename multiple areas in the city. BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht has proposed renaming Mustafabad to Shivpuri or Shiv Vihar, while Neelam Pahalwan has suggested changing Najafgarh’s name to Nahargarh. Pahalwan cited historical reasons, stating that Raja Nahar Singh had fought during the 1857 revolt and had integrated the Najafgarh region into Delhi’s territory. She expressed confidence that the renaming would receive widespread support.
Additionally, calls to rename Akbar Road have resurfaced multiple times, especially since the Congress party vacated its headquarters located on the road in January this year. The push for renaming places in Delhi is part of a broader ideological movement within the BJP to emphasize historical figures and narratives aligned with their vision for India.
While no official decision has been taken regarding the renaming of Tughlaq Lane, the symbolic change on Dinesh Sharma’s nameplate has reignited discussions on the topic. Whether these efforts lead to formal changes remains to be seen, but the controversy highlights the ongoing political and cultural debates over historical identities in the country.
