Arunachal governor’s residence renamed “Lok Bhavan” amid heated parliamentary debate

Arunachal Pradesh Governor K T Parnaik has officially renamed his residence from “Raj Bhavan” to “Lok Bhavan” , following instructions from the central government. A notification issued on December 4 says the new name will now be used in all official communications, signage, digital platforms, and documents.

The renaming is part of a nationwide effort by the Ministry of Home Affairs to replace colonial-era names like “Raj Bhavan” with more people-oriented names. “Lok Bhavan” means “People’s House” , reflecting an attempt to make the governor’s residence appear more accessible and connected to citizens.

Commissioner to Governor, Pawan Kumar Sain, directed all state departments and agencies to update their websites, official papers, and communications to reflect the new name.

However, the move has sparked protests and heated debate in Parliament . Opposition leaders said the decision was made without consulting state governments or legislatures, arguing that such symbolic changes alone do not improve governance or citizen engagement. During discussions in the Rajya Sabha, MPs like Dola Sen (AITC) and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government for imposing the change from the Centre.

Several other states, including Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Jharkhand, Tripura, and Assam, have also renamed their Raj Bhavans following the same directive. While the renaming emphasizes a people-centric approach, critics maintain that real improvements in governance and citizen accessibility are more important than changing a name.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the residence is now officially known as Lok Bhavan , marking a symbolic shift toward being a house “for the people,” though the effectiveness of this change will depend on how it translates into actual citizen engagement.