Why should we retain the name of a foreign communist leader who had nothing to do with our country?

PVN Madhav BJP president 

metro india news  I AMARAVATI

Newly appointed Andhra Pradesh BJP president P.V.N. Madhav courted controversy on Wednesday with a bold demand to rename the iconic Lenin Centre in Vijayawada after celebrated Telugu poet Viswanatha Satyanarayana. His comments, made during a massive rally through the city to mark his formal assumption of office, have sparked sharp political and public debate.

Addressing the crowd at Lenin Centre, Madhav questioned the relevance of naming an important city junction after Vladimir Lenin, the Russian revolutionary leader, who, he argued, had no direct connection with Indian history or culture.

“Why should we retain the name of a foreign communist leader who had nothing to do with our country?” Madhav asked, adding, “It is far more appropriate to name this central location after Kavisaamrat Viswanatha Satyanarayana, a literary giant who dedicated his life to the Telugu language and Indian ethos.”

The BJP leader, accompanied by several party workers, paid floral tributes to the statue of Viswanatha Satyanarayana located near the junction. The rally began at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram and culminated at the BJP office, stopping at Lenin Centre where Madhav reiterated his demand.

The Lenin statue at the heart of this discussion has stood at the busy Vijayawada junction for over four decades. Installed during the 1980s, when communist parties had a strong presence in the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, the statue is carved from pure black granite and has long been a popular city landmark. Every year on May 1st, International Workers’ Day is commemorated with major events at the site, reflecting the statue’s significance to left-leaning political groups and workers' unions.

Over the years, Lenin Centre has become a vital hub for students and book lovers, often regarded as a symbolic space for progressive thought and education. It is also a landmark frequently referenced by locals for navigation and social gatherings. Madhav’s remarks mark the first high-profile proposal to rename the Lenin Centre. While BJP supporters have welcomed the idea as a cultural correction, critics argue that the move could erase a piece of the city's diverse historical narrative.