Kadapa district, a name with deep historical roots, had been officially changed in recent years. Under the tenure of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the district was renamed YSR District, taking away the legendary Kadapa title despite its cultural and historical connotations.
But unlike other districts whose traditional names were kept intact—e.g., Potti Sriramulu Nellore District—Kadapa’s had been completely substituted in official parlance. Despite this, people still clung to the name Kadapa, speaking of their native place as Kadapollam with great pride. The sentimental attachment to the name never lost its hold, giving rise to massive calls for its restoration.
With the shift in government, these public demands gained strength. Acting on the mood, the state cabinet recently cleared the renaming of YSR District to YSR Kadapa District. The move is intended to balance things out—upholding the political heritage of YSR while keeping the name Kadapa, which is dear to its people, intact. By keeping both names, the government has steered clear of possible controversies that might ensue from completely erasing YSR’s name.
These decisions to rename places reflect the government’s intention to honor both historical identities and local sentiments. The action has been appreciated by the people of Kadapa, who can now officially adopt a name they have always associated themselves with.