Nitesh Rane to Visit Mumbra for Kanwar Yatra Amid Renaming Controversy

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Nitesh Rane is scheduled to visit Mumbra in Thane on Sunday to participate in the Kanwar Yatra. His visit comes amid an ongoing political controversy regarding his public statements advocating for the renaming of the suburb.

Earlier this week, Rane suggested that the Thane suburb should be renamed from Mumbra to Mumbra Devi. His remarks were made in the context of recent discussions concerning the renaming of several locations across Maharashtra, including the renaming of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv.

Speaking while participating in a Tiranga Yatra earlier in the week, Rane stated that efforts were underway regarding renaming initiatives, referencing previous name changes in the state and asserting that Mumbra would soon be renamed.

This is not the first time Rane has raised the proposal. In April this year, during a gathering organised at Mumbra-Shil Phata to mark the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rane had reiterated his demand to rename the locality.

The renaming proposals have faced criticism from opposition figures. Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi previously opposed the move, stating that authorities should focus on core developmental challenges rather than altering place names.

Azmi highlighted that Mumbra has a significant population, with many residents having relocated there due to affordable housing options. He emphasised that the area requires improvements in basic civic amenities, education facilities, schools, colleges, and overall local infrastructure.