The opposition parties on Wednesday mocked Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya after he mispronounced Kolkata-based football club Mohun Bagan at a press conference. The sports minister pronounced Bagan as 'Baigan'- a Hindi name for the vegetable eggplant-drawing hilarious reactions from the opposition leaders. While sharing the clip on X (formerly Twitter), the Trinamool Congress alleged that the sports minister had disrespected the legendary club by mispronouncing its name. Apart from this, the AAP and Congress leaders also mocked Mandaviya by alleging that he did not know even the basics of Indian sports.
In its post, the TMC pointed out that the sports minister could not pronounce the names of two legendary clubs- Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. "The Union Sports Minister in cannot even pronounce the names of Bengal's century-old iconic football clubs with the respect they deserve," the ruling party in Bengal stated in its post. "It is not "मोहन बैंगन." It is Mohun Bagan. It is not "ईस्ट बैंगन." It is East Bengal," it added.
The Union Sports Minister in @narendramodi’s Cabinet, @mansukhmandviya, cannot even pronounce the names of Bengal's century-old iconic football clubs with the respect they deserve.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 7, 2026
It is not "मोहन बैंगन." It is Mohun Bagan.
It is not "ईस्ट बैंगन." It is East Bengal.
These… pic.twitter.com/ocXh2ZDSl2
Apart from this, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj also mocked the sports minister by stating that he did not know the names of two prestigious clubs of India. “Meet the Central Govt’s Sports Minister of India… He can’t pronounce “Mohan Bagan” ( It’s not some dish made of egg plant like “मोहन के बैंगन”)… Our sport Minsiter does of know the name of one of the most prestigious football club in India.. That’s how desperately they love Bengal,” Bharadwaj stated in his post on X.
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While sharing the video, Congress leader Shama Mohamed described the incident as a "complete disaster" for Indian sports. “India’s sports minister @mansukhmandviya does not even know the name of iconic football club Mohun Bagan. He can't even pronounce East Bengal Fc ! This is the level of competence in the cabinet chosen by @narendramodi,” she asserted in her post. “A complete disaster for Indian sports!” the Congress leader added. The Assembly election in West Bengal is set to be conducted in the early months of 2026.