West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: Sanjay Raut slams Donald Trump for congratulating PM Modi

Mumbai: The BJP has achieved a resounding victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections. When Mamata Banerjee refused to resign, the Governor, exercising his constitutional powers, dissolved the TMC government. Consequently, a BJP Chief Minister is now set to take office in Bengal. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this victory in Bengal. Donald Trump's congratulatory message to the PM drew a sharp reaction from Sanjay Raut. He lashed out strongly at Donald Trump.

Sanjay Raut, spokesperson for the Shiv Sena (UBT), penned a lengthy letter addressed to Donald Trump on 'X' (formerly Twitter) and tagged him in the post. Sanjay Raut wrote: "Dear President Donald Trump, Namaste. As a Member of Parliament from India, I am writing this letter in response to reports regarding your congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the West Bengal Assembly election results."

Why is Sanjay Raut angry with Election Commission?

"These are state-level elections—an internal matter of India's federal democracy. To speak of any external endorsement regarding this seems both premature and inappropriate. More importantly, several serious concerns have come to light. Numerous complaints allege an atmosphere of fear, intimidation, and systemic pressure. The prevailing sentiment is that the Election Commission did not function impartially; its conduct appeared tilted in favor of the BJP, thereby raising questions regarding institutional neutrality."

What Concerns Did Sanjay Raut Express?

Sanjay Raut further stated that equally disturbing are the allegations surrounding the massive deployment of central forces—a move which many believe created an atmosphere of coercion rather than one that fostered trust. Senior leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, have publicly voiced their apprehensions regarding the fairness of this entire process. These concerns reflect a widespread unease that simply cannot be ignored.

"Democracy entails not merely the act of conducting elections, but ensuring that those elections are free, fair, and credible. When serious allegations surface, they warrant a thorough investigation, not a celebration. Were these concerns taken into consideration prior to your issuing a statement?" He further stated that, given your emphasis on democratic values, I urge you to adopt a more informed and balanced perspective on this matter. Thank you very much.

Why Did Donald Trump Congratulate PM Modi?

US President Donald Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his historic and decisive electoral victory in West Bengal. According to the White House, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved an unprecedented victory in this election. White House spokesperson Kush Desai also noted that, during a phone conversation just last month, President Trump had expressed his admiration for Prime Minister Modi, stating that India is fortunate to have him as its leader.