Andhra Pradesh Governor’s residence renamed ‘Lok Bhavan’

The official residence of the Governor of Andhra Pradesh has been renamed from “Raj Bhavan” to “Lok Bhavan.” Following approval from Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, the change was officially notified by the Governor’s Special Principal Secretary, G. Ananta Ram. The residence will now be formally referred to as “Lok Bhavan, Andhra Pradesh.”

This change is part of a nationwide initiative, directed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, to rename Governor residences in several states. So far, nine states - including Telangana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, Gujarat, Assam, Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Karnataka - as well as the Union Territory of Ladakh, have adopted the “Lok Bhavan” or “Lok Niwas” naming convention.

The primary reason behind the renaming is to remove colonial-era connotations and emphasize democratic values. The term “Raj” historically referred to rule by kings or the British, which is considered inconsistent with the spirit of democracy. “Lok” means people, so “Lok Bhavan” translates to “People’s House.” Through this change, the government aims to reinforce that the Governor’s residence belongs to the people, not just to the office-holder.

Legally, the renaming is fully valid. While the Indian Constitution mentions the office of the Governor, it does not mandate that the residence be called “Raj Bhavan.” Since this concerns only the name of the building, no constitutional amendment was required. The decision does not affect the powers, status, or functions of the Governor in any way.