Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya sparked widespread amusement and political controversy on January 7, 2026, after mispronouncing the names of two legendary Kolkata football clubs during a press conference. While addressing the resolution of a recent crisis in the Indian Super League (ISL), the minister referred to Mohun Bagan as "Mohun Baingan" and East Bengal as "East Baingan"—pronunciations that phonetically translate to "eggplant" in Hindi, instantly turning a routine briefing into a viral moment. The slip-up, captured on video, quickly spread across social media, drawing laughter from football fans and memes from netizens who pointed out the unintentional humor in the minister's gaffe.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which governs West Bengal, seized on the error to launch a sharp political attack. Party leaders accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government of showing disrespect toward Bengal's rich cultural and sporting heritage. Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are not just football clubs but symbols of regional pride, identity, and history in Kolkata, with their iconic rivalry—known as the Kolkata Derby—dating back over a century. TMC spokespersons highlighted the minister's pronunciation as evidence of the central government's alleged disconnect from Bengal's traditions, with some calling it a deliberate slight and others dismissing it as symptomatic of broader ignorance.

The incident quickly became fodder for online humor, with social media users creating memes, edited videos, and jokes around the "Baingan" (eggplant) twist. Football enthusiasts from across the country joined in, sharing nostalgic clips of the clubs' historic matches while playfully ribbing the minister's slip. Despite the levity, the episode underscored how deeply rooted Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are in Bengali identity, where football transcends sport and becomes a cultural institution.

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Mandaviya's office has not yet issued an official clarification or apology regarding the mispronunciation. The minister, who was speaking on efforts to resolve governance and scheduling issues in the ISL, continued his address without acknowledging the error at the time. The press conference focused on broader developments in Indian football, but the verbal gaffe overshadowed the substantive announcements, turning what was meant to be a positive update into a trending topic for all the wrong reasons.

This is not the first time a political figure's pronunciation has ignited controversy in India, where language, regional pride, and cultural sensitivity often intersect with politics. For Bengalis, the names Mohun Bagan and East Bengal carry profound emotional weight, tied to the clubs' legacies of triumph, resilience, and community spirit. While many see the minister's mistake as an innocent error, the TMC's swift response reflects the ongoing political rivalry between the center and West Bengal, where even a linguistic slip can be weaponized to score points. The episode serves as a reminder of how deeply football—and its correct nomenclature—resonates in the cultural fabric of Kolkata and Bengal.

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