The Union Home Ministry has approved the renaming of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra to Ahilyanagar, announced state Revenue Minister and BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.

Patil shared this information with the media on Friday, stating that the state cabinet decided to rename Ahmednagar in March and had sought the Centre’s approval. His announcement comes just ahead of the state’s assembly elections.

Ahilyabai Holkar, the 18th-century ruler of Indore (in Madhya Pradesh), hailed from the district, Patil noted.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had previously announced the name change in May. On the 298th birth anniversary of Ahilyadevi Holkar, Shinde had confirmed that Ahmednagar district would be renamed Ahilyanagar. Chondi village in Ahmednagar district is the birthplace of Holkar.

“In the coming days, Ahmednagar district will be officially renamed as ‘Ahilyanagar’ to mark Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar’s contribution to Maharashtra,” Shinde had stated.

Earlier, the Eknath Shinde government changed the names of Aurangabad and Osmanabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv, respectively.

Source: News18