Shatrughan Sinha congratulates Modi on 12 years as PM amid TMC rebellion
Synopsis
A sitting TMC MP publicly congratulating the BJP's Prime Minister on his 12-year milestone is not routine courtesy — it is a political signal. With Sinha reportedly on a list of TMC rebels considering a switch to the NDA, and the TMC facing its sharpest internal fracture in years, this X post may be less about sportsmanship and more about a door being left ajar.
Key Takeaways
Shatrughan Sinha , TMC Lok Sabha MP from Asansol , congratulated PM Narendra Modi on completing 12 years in office on 11 June .
Sinha called Modi a 'friend & guide' and wished him 'a long, healthy & prosperous life' in a post on X .
Reports indicate Sinha is among TMC rebel MPs said to be considering joining the NDA , though no official confirmation has been made.
The TMC is reportedly facing internal conflict, with legislators and MPs at odds with general secretary Abhishek Banerjee .
Sinha won the Asansol bypoll in 2022 and retained the seat in 2024 after stints with the BJP and Congress .
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha on Thursday, 11 June congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 12 years in office, calling him a 'friend and guide' in a post on X. The gesture drew attention given the reported political turbulence within the TMC, with a section of its MPs and MLAs said to be in open revolt against the party leadership.
What Sinha Said
In his post on X, Sinha wrote: 'In true sportsman spirit, wishing our friend & guide of society/nation, Hon'ble PM @narendramodi, best wishes on completing 12 years in office, perhaps the longest tenure, ever. Wish you a long, healthy & prosperous life ahead. Jai Hind!' The message was widely noted as an unusual gesture from a sitting TMC MP directed at the leader of the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The Political Context
The congratulatory post arrived as BJP-led NDA leaders marked Modi's milestone of becoming India's longest-serving democratically elected Prime Minister in consecutive terms. According to political analysts, the timing of Sinha's message is significant: the TMC is reportedly navigating internal divisions, with a section of its legislators and Lok Sabha MPs said to be at odds with the party leadership — and particularly with TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Reports indicate Sinha is among the rebel MPs said to be considering a move to the NDA, though this has not been confirmed officially.
Sinha's Political Journey
Sinha's political career spans multiple parties and decades. He joined the BJP in the early 1980s, when the party held just two Lok Sabha seats, and served as a star campaigner during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee–L.K. Advani era. He served as a Union Minister in Vajpayee's cabinet before eventually parting ways with the BJP over reported differences with the current leadership. He subsequently joined the Indian National Congress (INC) and contested from Patna Sahib in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, losing to former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Notably, Sinha had addressed a TMC anti-BJP rally at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata ahead of the 2019 polls while still a BJP MP.
His TMC Tenure
In 2022, Sinha won the Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll in West Burdwan district on a TMC ticket. He retained the Asansol seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, cementing his position as a two-term MP from the constituency. His latest message to Modi has added fresh speculation about his political future within — or beyond — the TMC.
What to Watch
The TMC's internal tensions are expected to be closely watched in the weeks ahead, particularly as rebel MPs reportedly weigh their options. Sinha's public tribute to Modi — however framed in 'sportsman spirit' — could prove a bellwether for the direction the faction ultimately takes.
Point of View
On its face, surprising — the two have a long personal history. What makes this noteworthy is the timing: a sitting TMC MP publicly lionising the BJP's Prime Minister precisely when a faction of TMC legislators is reportedly in rebellion against Abhishek Banerjee's leadership. The 'sportsman spirit' framing gives Sinha plausible deniability, but in Indian politics, public tributes to rival leaders rarely lack subtext. If the reported rebel list is accurate, this post may be the opening move of a very calculated political realignment — and the TMC leadership will be watching closely.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Shatrughan Sinha congratulate PM Modi on 12 years in office?
Sinha, a TMC Lok Sabha MP, posted a congratulatory message on X describing Modi as a 'friend and guide' and wishing him a long, healthy life. The gesture drew attention because Sinha is reportedly among TMC rebel MPs said to be considering a move to the NDA, though no official confirmation has been made.
What did Shatrughan Sinha write in his X post about PM Modi?
Sinha wrote: 'In true sportsman spirit, wishing our friend & guide of society/nation, Hon'ble PM @narendramodi, best wishes on completing 12 years in office, perhaps the longest tenure, ever. Wish you a long, healthy & prosperous life ahead. Jai Hind!'
What is the internal conflict in the TMC that gives this message significance?
According to political analysts, a section of TMC MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs are reportedly in revolt against the party leadership, particularly against general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Sinha is said to be on a list of rebel MPs considering joining the BJP-led NDA, making his public tribute to Modi politically significant.
What is Shatrughan Sinha's political history?
Sinha joined the BJP in the early 1980s and served as a Union Minister under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He later quit the BJP, joined the Congress, and lost the 2019 Patna Sahib election to Ravi Shankar Prasad. He then won the Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll in 2022 on a TMC ticket and retained the seat in 2024.
What is the significance of Modi completing 12 years in office?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year milestone, marked on 11 June, is notable because BJP-led NDA leaders have described it as making him India's longest-serving democratically elected Prime Minister in consecutive terms.
