Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the education ministry seeking to change the name of IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai, CM Devendra Fadnavis said amid a row over Union minister Jitendra Singh's remarks on the institute's nomenclature.

The Minister of State for Science and Technology had said that thankfully, IIT Bombay's name is not changed to Mumbai, prompting a sharp reaction from MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who said the remarks reflect the government's mindset.

"As far as IIT Bombay is concerned, thank God it still is this name. You have not changed it to Mumbai. So that's another compliment to you. And also true for Madras. It remains IIT Madras," Singh said, addressing a function at IIT Bombay on Monday.

Interacting with reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday, Fadnavis said, "First of all, everyone knows that BJP leader Ram Naik had made the biggest contribution in changing (the name of) Bombay to Mumbai. We always say Mumbai, and not Bombay. We have been consistently trying to ensure that 'Bombay' is replaced with Mumbai."

"I will write a letter to the Prime Minister and the HRD (Education) Minister to change the name of IIT Bombay to IIT Mumbai," he added.

Indicating that the Marathi identity will be a key agenda in the upcoming Mumbai civic body polls, Raj Thackeray likened the situation to the Centre's earlier attempt to wrest Chandigarh from Punjab's control. "Our Marathi Mumbai remained in Maharashtra. Now, the bitterness that's been festering in their bellies for decades is starting to spill out once again," he said.

He warned that attempts to take control of the city were underway, stating, "First Mumbai, and then the entire MMR region will be seized and linked to Gujarat. Marathi people should wake up."

MNS workers on Wednesday put up a banner outside IIT Bombay, renaming the institution, set up in 1958, as IIT Mumbai.

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said the state government will send a proposal to the Centre to rename IIT Bombay as IIT Mumbai and also suggested renaming the Bombay High Court as the Mumbai High Court.

The city, earlier known as Bombay, was officially renamed Mumbai in 1995 by the state government to honour the local goddess Mumbadevi and to shed remnants of British colonial rule.

Hitting out at Raj Thackeray, Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam criticised his choice of schools for his children and questioned his commitment to Marathi. MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar also targeted Thackeray.