Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government's bid to rechristen West Bengal as "Bengal" has attracted mixed reactions from authors, singers and politicians, with some giving the thumbs up and others frowning at the move.

Announcing the state cabinet Tuesday's decision adopting the proposal to drop "West" from the state's name, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said a special session of the assembly will be convened beginning August 26 to discuss and pass a resolution to give effect to the new name.