New Delhi: Patna has decided against re-naming the city's main intersection – named after Rabindranath Tagore in 2002 – after chief minister Nitish Kumar nixed the proposal following strong opposition. The landmark Kavi Guru Rabindra Chowk, popularly known as Dak Bungalow crossing, was proposed to be renamed after late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

According to The Hindu, the proposal was made by BJP's Sita Sahu, and the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) was planning to discuss it in a meeting on Thursday. However, with the Bihar Bengali Association publicly opposing the move, Nitish had to step in. The civic body is now reportedly looking for a spot near Dak Bungalow Chowk to install a Tagore statue as well as signage to make the crossing popular as Rabindra Chowk.

Also read: What's in a (Re)Name?

The association's president, Dilip Kumar Sinha, told Hindustan Times that the chief minister himself contacted them to say that since the crossing "had once been named after Tagore, it would not be changed."

In 2002, the association's demand to commemorate Tagore’s 1936 visit to Patna had led Rabri Devi's Rashtriya Janata Dal government to name the landmark after Tagore. As per The Hindu report, the noble laureate stayed at the city's Dak Bungalow on March 16 and 17 of that year. The Dak Bungalow was later dismantled.

According to a Times of India report, however, the PMC clarified that there was never a set proposal to rename the landmark chowk and confusion had arisen after a councillor, one Vikas Kumar, offered to table such a proposal at Thursday's meeting. However, PMC commissioner Anupam Kumar Suman said that if such a proposal was to arise at the meeting, it would be discussed. Suman brushed aside reports that any other road or park was proposed to be named after Vajpayee.

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