Bhagyanagar or Hyderabad? The Prime Minister sparked interest in yet another name change campaign that the BJP has been pushing for some time on Sunday, that of renaming Hyderabad to Bhagyanagar, amid the controversy surrounding the renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad in Maharashtra to Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv.

In his presentation to the delegates from across the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi caused controversy in Hyderabad by referring to the capital of Telangana as Bhagyanagar, sparking rumours that yet another city may be getting a new name.

PM Modi claimed that Sardar Patel, the legendary independence fighter, had created the phrase 'Ek Bharat' in Bhagyanagar during the national executive conference of the Bharatiya Janata Party held here. 

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad stated, “PM Modi emphasised that Hyderabad is Bhagyanagar, which is significant for all of us, speaking to media following the PM's talk. The basis of a united India was preserved by Sardar Patel, and it is now up to the BJP to expand it. ”

When asked if Hyderabad's name would be changed to Bhagyanagar, Union Minister Piyush Goyal responded, 'The chief minister would determine this along with the cabinet colleagues when the BJP comes into power in the state.' 

The RSS, BJP officials, and other Hindu organisations have long demanded that Hyderabad be renamed Bhagyanagar.

Prasad said that in his speech to BJP members, Modi brought up the party's explosive growth over the years throughout the nation. In states like Telangana, West Bengal, and Kerala, 'He (Modi) very proudly conveyed his great admiration of courage of the party workers,' the source added.

'The people of Telangana are renowned throughout the world for their steadfast commitment to the growth of the nation. The Bharatiya Janata Party has Telangana's overall development as one of its top concerns. We are working tirelessly to develop Telangana in accordance with the slogan of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas,and Sabka Prayas,' Modi remarked while addressing a crowd after the BJP's National Executive Meeting.

The prime minister also attacked Congress, claiming that the long-ruling parties in India are currently in a state of terminal decline. “We shouldn't make fun of or mock them.” Instead, the BJP spokesperson cited Modi as stating, “We should learn from their mistakes.”

The country is tired of dynasty politics and dynastic political parties, the prime minister added, and he cautioned that it would be challenging for them to endure for an extended period of time.

Along with criticising dynastic politics, casteism, and appeasement politics, the BJP asserted that it will put a stop to family dominance in places like Telangana and West Bengal. The party will also take office in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha, which have so far resisted joining the saffron party's march to power since it took office as the federal government in 2014.

According to individuals with knowledge of the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave party colleagues instructions during the current national executive committee meeting to broaden the BJP's outreach to marginalised communities and not just Hindus.

On condition of anonymity, a functionary remarked, 'He emphasised the outreach towards the marginalised communities should not be limited to Hindus alone.'

The party has benefited electorally by allowing marginalised groups to have a voice in politics and by implementing specific programmes and policies that help Dalits, Scheduled Tribes (STs), and other underprivileged groups.

In reference to the BJP's recent victories in the Muslim-heavy districts of Azamgarh and Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, Modi is said to have suggested that the party should look into how marginalised Muslim groups that have benefited from the government's programmes have supported the party.

Millions of people attended the public meeting, which was an unprecedented turnout and demonstrated the leader's enormous popularity. According to reports, more than two lakh individuals showed up.

PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP leader JP Nadda, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, andChief Ministers like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, and others spoke during the rally, which was dubbed 'Vijaya Sankalpa Sabha.'

BL Santhosh, national general secretary (organisation) of the BJP, added fuel to the fire by tweeting, 'Here in Bhagyanagar, Sardar Patel gave us Ek Bharat.' To develop our nation 'Shreshst Bharat,' the whole national BJP team has gathered today under the leadership of JP Nadda. When asked if Hyderabad would become Bhagyanagar, Union Minister Piyush Goyal responded, 'The CM would decide along with his cabinet colleagues when BJP comes into power in Telangana.'

KTR, the son of Telangana Chief Minister KCR and a minister, retaliated against the BJP by stating why doesn't Ahmedabad’s name be changed to Adanibad first? 

Although BJP members have long called for the renaming of Hyderabad, the issue gained traction during the 2020 elections for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation when Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, urged voters to support the party 'to transform Hyderabad into Bhagyanagar.'

The BJP's selection of Hyderabad for the meeting is said to be its most direct indication yet that the state is at the top of its list for expansion in areas where it is still relatively weak. As they prepare for the Legislative Assembly elections next year, the ruling TRS and BJP have been engaged in a verbal battle over a variety of issues.

This is only the fourth time the party has held its major national meeting outside of Delhi since taking office at the centre of government in 2014. It had previously hosted meetings in Bengaluru in 2015, Kerala in 2016, and Odisha in 2017.

On Saturday, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, head of the BJP's Telangana branch, asserted that the state's residents are tired of the TRS administration's 'misrule' and ready for a change. In an apparent allusion to Rao not meeting the PM at the airport on Saturday when Modi arrived in the city to attend the BJP's national executive, he claimed that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is 'running away' whenever the Prime Minister visits the state.

'You (Rao) have raised the cost of everything, including the property tax and bus fares. People are tired of your mismanagement. They are seeking a change as a result. Your 'Naya Nizam' regime will come to an end, Kumar informed the reporters present.

Kumar, who is also a member of the Lok Sabha, expressed confidence that Telangana will elect a BJP government.

While there has been an unending debate over the name of Hyderabad—whether it was called Bhagyanagar and later rechristened, people are unaware that this particular aspect is connected to a legend or a love story between Hyderabad's founder Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah and a Hindu woman named Bhagmati.  Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth Golconda king (and the man who founded Hyderabad), was said to have been in love with Bhagmati long before Hyderabad was established. The Puranapul bridge was built by his father, Ibrahim Qutb Shah so that his son could go meet his lover. Later, Bhagmati was married to Quli Qutb Shah. After leaving the walled city of Golconda fort, he constructed a new city and christened it Bhagnagar in her honour. The name of the city was allegedly changed to Hyderabad after Bhagmati embraced Islam, according to historians.