Months before elections, UP cabinet renames Jalalabad to Parshurampuri

LUCKNOW: The latest city to see a name change in Uttar Pradesh is Jalalabad, which has been renamed Parshurampuri. The Jalalabad Nagar Palika Parishad will also be renamed Parshurampuri Nagar Palika Parishad. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Monday. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said the demand to rename Jalalabad had been pending for years, as the town is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Parshuram, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The name change comes at a crucial time, with the state elections just months away. It also aligns with the government's push to reclaim Sambhal as the prophesied birthplace of Kalki, the final avatar of Lord Vishnu. Khanna said that on April 24, 2025, the government received a proposal to rename Jalalabad in Shahjahanpur district. On June 27, 2025, the state government sought permission from the Centre for the name change. A no-objection certificate (NOC) was received on August 19, 2025. "On Monday, the Cabinet gave unanimous consent to rename Jalalabad city and the Jalalabad Nagar Palika Parishad as Parshurampuri," Khanna said.