Leaders and party workers of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday opposed the plan to rename Mumbai`s 100-year-old King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEM hospital) as Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) too voiced against the decision.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MARD called for the preservation of the hospital’s historic identity.
A fresh political row emerged following a proposal to rename the historic KEM hospital in Parel area of Central Mumbai.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Ajay Choudhari along with party leader Kishori Pednekar met the hospital’s dean, Sangeeta Ravat, to formally register their objection.
They stated that the institution has served Mumbaikars for over a century and its name is closely tied to the city’s public healthcare legacy.
Opponents argue that the hospital’s name is widely recognised across the country and forms an essential part of Mumbai’s healthcare system. They believe altering it would undermine its legacy and public trust built over decades.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs Ajay Choudhari and Kishori Pednekar met KEM Hospital Dean Sangeeta Ravat and opposed the proposal to rename KEM Hospital as “Kaushalya Eklavya Memorial Hospital.” They stated that the 100-year-old institution’s identity should not be… pic.twitter.com/j5AkhgCdKu
— IANS (@ians_india) April 27, 2026
Proposed new name sparks protest
The hospital, which recently completed 100 years of service, is reportedly set to be renamed `Kaushalyashreshtha Eklavya Memorial Hospital`. The proposal has triggered criticism from political leaders as well as members of the medical community.
The proposal to rename the institution reportedly stems from a letter sent to the civic health committee by Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. In his communication, he suggested that the hospital be renamed ‘Kaushalyashreshtha Eklavya Memorial Hospital’, arguing that names associated with the country’s colonial past should be replaced with those of inspirational figures rooted in Indian heritage.
The proposal was reportedly approved by the civic health committee on Friday, but it is yet to be placed before the civic general body for further discussion and final decision.
Doctors’ body voices concern
The MARD has also opposed the proposed renaming. Its General Secretary, Samir Badhe, said the hospital’s name carries deep historical significance.
He stressed that KEM Hospital’s nearly 100-year-old legacy cannot be separated from its identity, adding that changing the name would overlook its historical importance.
Badhe told the IANS, “The legacy of KEM Hospital is nearly 100 years old. We cannot change the history behind its name. Therefore, we are opposing this entire process. The name King Edward Memorial Hospital is our identity, and its historical significance is immense.”
मुंबई, महाराष्ट्र: किंग एडवर्ड मेमोरियल (KEM) अस्पताल का नाम बदलकर `कौशल्या श्रेष्ठ एकलव्य मेमोरियल` करने के प्रस्ताव का विरोध हो रहा है
महाराष्ट्र एसोसिएशन ऑफ रेजिडेंट डॉक्टर्स (MARD) के जनरल सेक्रेट्री और केईएम अस्पताल के रेजिडेंट डॉक्टर समीर बड़गे ने कहा, “केईएम अस्पताल की… pic.twitter.com/5fw8hDtDZx
— IANS Hindi (@IANSKhabar) April 27, 2026
