No Name Change for Telibandha Chowk: CM Vishnu Deo Sai Quells Renaming Row After Congress Backlash, Affirms Heritage Intact
The political row erupted after senior Congress leaders—including former minister Dhanendra Sahu, former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and PCC communication chief Sushil Anand Shukla—alongside the local Sahu community, fiercely opposed plans to rechristen Raipur’s iconic Telibandha Chowk as ‘Seva Jyoti Sankalp Chowk’, prompting Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to clarify that the historical nomenclature remains untouched.
Raipur: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai moved decisively on Wednesday to clear the air regarding the renaming controversy surrounding Raipur’s bustling Telibandha Chowk, affirming that its century-old name and original identity will remain entirely undisturbed.
The friction began following reports that Telibandha Chowk was among 38 junctions statewide chosen to be developed as “Seva Jyoti Sankalp Chowk” under the BJP administration’s Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, commemorating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public service. The perceived renaming drew immediate pushback from the opposition Congress and the influential Sahu community. Senior Congress leader and former minister Dhanendra Sahu warned of large-scale agitation, calling the name an indelible part of the city’s civic fabric and community legacy that cannot be compromised. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel criticized the move on social media, accusing the government of prioritizing symbolic renamings over pressing governance challenges. State Congress Communication Department Chairman Sushil Anand Shukla also slammed the step, asserting that supplanting a historical identity with a political slogan hurts public sentiments.
Addressing the mounting controversy during an interaction with journalists, CM Sai dispelled the concerns, stating that there was never a proposal to erase the square’s name. He clarified that the project is solely an urban development and beautification drive aligned with the spirit of public service, and the junction will continue to be called Telibandha Chowk.