New Delhi: Tipu Express, which plies between Mysuru and Bengaluru, has been renamed as ‘Wodeyar Express’, and an express train from Mysuru to Talaguppa has been named after Kannada poet laureate Kuvempu, The Hindu reported.While there is no controversy over the new ‘Kuvempu Express’, the decision by the Railways to rename Tipu Express has drawn criticism from many who say that the name change was effected in line with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) obsession with name-changing to erase the legacy of Muslim rulers.The Railway Board issued a notification authorising the changes on Friday, October 7. The changes came into effect on Saturday, October 8. The renaming of Tipu Express is in response to a demand put forward by Mysuru MP Pratap Sinha of the BJP, who had written to the then railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw a few months ago.In his letter, Sinha had highlighted the contribution made by the Wadiyars to the development and expansion of railways in the then princely state of Mysore. He had argued that there was no railway system during the reign of Tipu Sultan while the Wadiyars had heavily invested in and promoted railways as a means of transportation. He had also said that their decision to promote railways had actually ensured timely relief during famine under their reign.A section of railway activists – who are at the forefront of fighting for better amenities for railway passengers – said no one doubted the immense contribution made by the Wadiyars to the expansion of railways. However, they said, it would have been better to name a new train and a new rake after them, instead of changing the name of Tipu Express.A superfast train connecting Mysuru and Bengaluru, Tipu Express was started on April 15, 1980. It covers 139 kms in estimated 3.15 hours on a single-line metre gauge track. As for the Talguppa Express which is now named after Kuvempu, it plies between Talguppa and Mysuru. The poet laureate was born in Tirthahalli in the Shivamogga district.