After the Mughals’ hold over power weakened in the early 18th century, Aurangabad became part of the Hyderabad Nizams’ territory.
It was part of the Bombay state briefly after India attained independence.
Since the formation of Maharashtra in 1960, Aurangabad has been a part of the state.
1988, Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray gave a slogan to rename Aurangabad as 'Sambhajinagar' in a public meeting held at Marathwada Sanskrutik Mandal
In June 1995, a resolution to rename Aurangabad as 'Sambhajinagar' was approved in the general body meeting of AMC and sent to the Government.
A notification about renaming was issued in 1995 as there was a Sena-BJP alliance Government in the State.
In 1996, Mushtaq Ahmed filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the renaming of the district.
--The saffron parties lost the elections in 1999 and a coalition Government was formed.
The naming proposal did not move forward.
--In 2002, a petition filed by Mushtaq Ahmed was disposed of in the court.
--The issue of Sambhajinagar was raised again in the meeting in view of the AMC elections of 2005.
--In the year 2010, Sena-BJP won the AMC elections on the same issue of renaming.
--After the Sena-BJP alliance came to power in the State 2014, the renaming proposal was raised again, but no decision was taken.
--Elections were held in 2015 on the issues of Hindutva and Sambhajinagar, but the said proposal was put on the back-burner.
--The Government sought information from the divisional administration on March 4, 2020, about the court petition and No Objection Certificate (NoC) regarding the renaming of the district
--In 2021, displays (illuminated letters) were put up in the city with the slogan 'Super Sambhajinagar.' The Guardian Minister released a manifesto. He mentioned the city’s name as Sambhajinagar during his every visit, creating a controversy.
In a public meeting of June 8, 2022, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed the idea of renaming only after providing facilities and developments
After a rebellion in Sena on June 21, 2022, the process of the State Government turning into a minority began.
The decision to rename Aurangabad and Osmanabad cities as Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, on June 29, 2022.
