Yogi Adityanath renames Bhadohi district to Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has officially renamed Bhadohi district to Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi.

Speaking at a public event in the district on Sunday, 4 October 2026, Adityanath announced the name change alongside the inauguration of 112 development projects worth more than ₹1,340 crore. The decision revives a previous name for the district, which is globally famous for its hand-knotted carpet industry.

"Now our Bhadohi district will be called Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi," Adityanath said, fulfilling a pledge he first made during Guru Purnima celebrations on 29 July. The renaming honours Satguru Ravidas, a medieval saint and social reformer whose teachings on equality are highly revered, particularly by the Dalit community.

A history of name changes

This is the latest chapter in a long-running political tug-of-war over the district's identity. Originally carved out of Varanasi to become Uttar Pradesh's 65th district on 30 June 1994, the area has had its name changed multiple times.

It was previously called Sant Ravidas Nagar until the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government changed it back to Bhadohi on 6 December 2014. The restoration of the saint's name comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) steps up its Dalit outreach efforts across eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Adityanath linked the renaming to broader social welfare goals, invoking the 600-year-old vision of Sant Ravidas where no one goes hungry. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said, more than 80 crore people in India now receive free rations, making the new name highly appropriate.

Political clashes over development

Adityanath used the platform to launch a sharp attack on his political rivals, particularly the Samajwadi Party, accusing previous administrations of mismanaging public money before the BJP took power in 2017. He claimed that previous governments spent state funds on building boundary walls for graveyards rather than preserving and beautifying heritage and religious sites.

The Chief Minister also championed his government’s law-and-order record, contrasting it with the "mafia activity" and curfews he said once plagued the region. He claimed that artisans and traders who were once forced to migrate due to insecurity are now thriving under better local conditions.

To boost the local economy, the state government has included Bhadohi carpets in its One District-One Product scheme. Adityanath said this initiative has successfully connected local weavers with modern technology, design assistance, and direct access to international buyers.

Addressing employment, the Chief Minister warned that anyone trying to exploit or scam young jobseekers would face prison and asset seizure. He promised that the state government is on track to provide another 100,000 public sector jobs over the next six months.