The Kerala government has objected to a proposal by Hibi Eden, MP, through a private members’ Bill to change the State capital from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam. Mr. Eden, a Congress MP from Ernakulam district, moved the Bill in Parliament back in March, following which the Union government sought the opinion of the State government.
The emergence of the proposal in the public sphere on Saturday kicked up a storm with even Mr. Eden’s fellow party members as well as leaders from the United Democratic Front (UDF) constituent parties taking a stand against him. The State Capital Relocation Bill, 2023 proposes to change the State capital from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam, taking into consideration the geographical location, importance, and central location of the latter.
The Bill argues that it is essential to relocate the State capital to a more central location that is accessible to all, while Thiruvananthapuram, due to its southern location, has become geographically inaccessible for many residents, leading to difficulties in accessing the seat of the government.
