Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut on Friday, 8 May took strong objection to US President Donald Trump's congratulatory message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the West Bengal Assembly election results, calling the external endorsement "premature and misplaced" in what he described as an internal matter of India's federal democracy.

Raut's Open Letter to Trump

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) in his capacity as a Member of Parliament from India, Raut addressed Trump directly. "Democracy is not just about elections — it is about ensuring they are free, fair, and credible. When serious allegations arise, they warrant scrutiny, not celebration. Were these concerns considered before your statement?" he wrote.

Raut urged President Trump to adopt "a more informed and balanced view," particularly given Trump's own stated emphasis on democratic values. The MP argued that state-level elections are strictly an internal matter of India's federal structure and that any external validation — however well-intentioned — risks appearing one-sided when credibility concerns remain unresolved.

Allegations of Institutional Bias and Coercion

Raut cited a range of complaints that have surfaced in the aftermath of the election. "Numerous complaints allege an atmosphere of fear, intimidation, and systemic pressure," he stated. He further alleged that there are "widespread perceptions that the Election Commission did not act impartially and that its functioning appeared to favour the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), raising questions about institutional neutrality."

He also flagged concerns over the "extensive deployment of central forces," which he claimed "many believe created coercion rather than confidence" among voters. Raut noted that senior leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had publicly raised concerns about the fairness of the electoral process — concerns he said "reflect a broader unease that cannot be ignored."

What Trump Said About Modi's Victory

The controversy was triggered after a White House spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that President Trump had congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his "historic and decisive" election victory. White House Spokesman Kush Desai said, "Just last month on their phone call, President Trump expressed to Prime Minister Modi his admiration and how lucky India is to have him as its leader." Desai added, "The President congratulates Prime Minister Modi on this recent, historic, and decisive election victory."

Saamana Editorial: The 'Modi-Shah Pattern'

Raut's public letter follows a sharply-worded editorial published in Saamana, the party mouthpiece of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), which alleged that the results across multiple states reflected a deliberate "Modi-Shah pattern" of capturing elections. The editorial named Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu as states where this strategy was allegedly deployed.

On Tamil Nadu, the editorial claimed that actor Vijay's TVK party, though short of a full majority, was expected to secure over 100 seats through strategic vote division — leaving the DMK-Congress alliance with around 70 seats and the BJP-AIADMK alliance with approximately 50 seats.

The editorial further alleged that the BJP's success in West Bengal was aided by a "third partner" in Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, claiming his role was decisive in breaking the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s three-term hold on the state — an allegation the Election Commission has not officially responded to.

Broader Opposition Unease

The Thackeray camp's editorial described the five state election results as "game changers" for the BJP, but claimed they were not achieved "through straightforward means." The opposition's concerns collectively point to a growing narrative questioning the independence of electoral institutions — a debate that is likely to intensify as scrutiny of the results continues.

With Raut now internationalising the discourse by directly addressing the US President, the political fallout from these elections appears far from settled.