New BJP president Nitin Nabin sparked controversy in West Bengal after mis-stating Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize during a party event, drawing swift criticism from Trinamool leaders.

Durgapur: Newly appointed Nitin Nabin landed in controversy on Wednesday after mixing up details of Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize while addressing party workers at a ‘Kamal Mela’ in Durgapur.

Tagore was awarded the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature for Gitanjali, a fact widely cited by the Nobel Committee for its lyrical and sensitive verse. The error, made days after Nabin took over as national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was quickly seized upon by leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress.

Senior Trinamool figures, including Mahua Moitra, criticised the slip, with social media amplifying the moment through memes questioning the BJP’s familiarity with Bengal’s cultural icons ahead of the Assembly elections. BJP supporters, however, downplayed the episode as a verbal lapse, arguing that the broader reference to Tagore’s ideals remained intact.

Analysis:
In a state where cultural symbolism carries electoral weight, such missteps tend to resonate beyond the stage. While the incident may fade quickly, it adds to a pattern of avoidable gaffes that rivals are likely to highlight during the campaign. This assessment is analytical opinion; all factual details above are drawn from the original report.