Govt open to naming Namma Metro after Kempegowda, says CM

The State government has an open mind on naming the entire Namma Metro after Bengaluru’s founder Kempegowda, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday.

He was responding to a request by the Congress MLA from Vijayanagar, M Krishnappa, at the inauguration of the metro line between Magadi Road and Mysuru Road.

Different political leaders invoked different names to please their constituencies, supporters and activists who were present in large numbers at the Mysuru Road station where the main event was held.

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers H N Ananth Kumar was the first to open the discussion on names. “It would be appropriate if the Hosahalli station is named after the Adichunchanagiri seer, the late Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami. I request the chief minister to announce the same right now. I think he will,” he said. Siddaramaiah seemed surprised by the request, but he kept quiet.

Krishnappa, who spoke next, took the issue a step further. “I would like to request the chief minister to name the entire metro after Kempegowda. Instead of Namma Metro, let us have the name as Kempegowda Metro. I also request the chief minister to name the Hosahalli station after Balagangadharanatha Swami. On this, I have been corresponding with the chief minister for several months now, and in fact I have his assurance that the station would be named after the swamiji,” he said.

Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu was quick not to miss his chance. “Definitely, we will name the Hosahalli station after the Swamiji. Why, we have already named one of the stations in Delhi Metro after Sir M Visvesvaraya.”

Siddaramaiah was not to be left behind. “The State government has an open mind on naming the entire Metro after Kempegowda. He said that the government had not objection to naming the Hosahalli station after the swami.

“One thing I want to make clear is that the government does not agree with writer Girish Karnad’s opinion that the airport has to be named after Tipu Sultan. There is no connection between the State government’s views and those of Karnad’s. There will be no changing of the name... no question of that,” he said.