Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday announced that Ahmednagar district will be renamed after 18th century Indore ruler Ahilyabai Holkar. Earlier, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said he would request Chief Minister Shinde to change the name of Ahmednagar city to 'Ahilyanagar'.

"Our government works keeping in mind the ideals of governance set by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Ahilyadevi Holkar. So, as per the wishes of all of you, we have decided to rename the district after Ahilyadevi Holkar."

"Had Rajmata Ahilyadevi not been alive, Kashi would not have survived. Had it not been for that, we would not have temples of Lord Shiva. That is why people want to change the name of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar. I am also going to make this request to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde," he said.

The deputy chief minister described the ruling alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena as a "Hindutva" government. We named Sambhajinagar under your (Shinde) leadership, we named it Dharashiv. I am confident that the chief minister is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 'Mawla' (soldier) and hence Ahmednagar will be renamed as Ahilyanagar," he said.

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