T&T PM congratulates Modi on BJP's historic West Bengal win

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T&T PM congratulates Modi on BJP's historic West Bengal win

Synopsis

For the first time in its history, the BJP has reportedly secured a West Bengal Assembly election victory — and the congratulations are already coming in from abroad. Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar's message, paired with EAM Jaishankar's imminent visit to Port of Spain, signals how a domestic electoral milestone is rapidly reshaping India's diplomatic conversations.

Key Takeaways

Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar congratulated PM Narendra Modi and the BJP on a "resounding and historic" West Bengal Assembly election win.
This is reportedly the first time the BJP has secured victory in West Bengal , home to more than 100 million people .
Persad-Bissessar described India as "the world's largest democracy" and praised Modi's "calm, disciplined, and steadfast leadership." EAM S.
Jaishankar is scheduled for an official visit to Trinidad and Tobago later this week to strengthen bilateral ties.
Jaishankar thanked Persad-Bissessar and confirmed he looks forward to deepening the India-Trinidad and Tobago relationship.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Wednesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on what she described as a "resounding and historic" electoral victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections — marking the first time the BJP has secured a win in the state. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded warmly, expressing his eagerness to visit Port of Spain and deepen bilateral ties.

Persad-Bissessar's Congratulatory Message

Taking to social media platform X, the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister extended formal congratulations on behalf of her government. "The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago extends sincere congratulations to Shree Narendra Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of the Republic of India, and to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its resounding and historic electoral victory in West Bengal on Monday," she wrote.

Persad-Bissessar underscored the significance of the result, noting that West Bengal is one of India's most populous states, home to more than 100 million people. She called the outcome "a significant political milestone" that reflects the enduring strength of India's democratic institutions.

Praise for Modi's Leadership

The T&T Prime Minister also offered praise for Modi's governance style. "India today stands proudly as the world's largest democracy, and Prime Minister Modi's calm, disciplined, and steadfast leadership continues to command the confidence of the Indian people during a period of profound global change and opportunity," she stated.

The message carried notable diplomatic weight, coming from a Caribbean nation with deep historical and cultural ties to India — rooted in the Indian diaspora that arrived in Trinidad and Tobago over a century ago.

Jaishankar's Upcoming Visit to Trinidad and Tobago

Persad-Bissessar also confirmed that her government looks forward to the official visit of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar later this week. The visit is expected to serve as a platform for both nations to advance their longstanding partnership, grounded in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and a mutual commitment to international cooperation.

Responding to the T&T Prime Minister's message, EAM Jaishankar said, "Thank you Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for your warm words of welcome. Look forward to being in Trinidad and Tobago soon and working with you and your team to further strengthen the India-Trinidad and Tobago relationship."

India-Trinidad and Tobago Relations

India and Trinidad and Tobago share longstanding diplomatic ties, underpinned by a large Indo-Trinidadian community that traces its roots to indentured labour migration in the 19th century. Bilateral cooperation spans trade, culture, and multilateral diplomacy. Jaishankar's upcoming visit is expected to add fresh momentum to this relationship at a time when India is actively expanding its diplomatic footprint across the Caribbean and Latin America.

The BJP's West Bengal victory — if confirmed — would represent a seismic shift in Indian state politics, given the party's long struggle to break through in a state dominated for over a decade by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). The international congratulations signal that the result is being closely watched well beyond India's borders.

Point of View

Timed ahead of Jaishankar's visit, is as much about cementing Caribbean goodwill with New Delhi as it is about the West Bengal result itself. The BJP's reported breakthrough in West Bengal, if it holds, would redraw India's political map in ways that reverberate beyond state boundaries. That a Caribbean head of government felt compelled to weigh in — and that India's top diplomat publicly acknowledged it — tells you something about how Modi's electoral outcomes have become instruments of foreign policy positioning.
NationPress
12 May 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Trinidad and Tobago's PM congratulate Modi on the West Bengal election?
Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar congratulated PM Narendra Modi and the BJP on what she called a "resounding and historic" first-ever West Bengal Assembly election victory, citing it as a milestone for India's democratic institutions. The message was posted on social media platform X on Wednesday local time.
Is this the first time the BJP has won the West Bengal Assembly elections?
According to PM Persad-Bissessar's statement, the West Bengal result marks the first time the BJP has secured victory in the state, which she noted is home to more than 100 million people. The BJP had previously struggled to break through in a state long dominated by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
When is EAM Jaishankar visiting Trinidad and Tobago?
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to make an official visit to Trinidad and Tobago later this week, as confirmed by PM Persad-Bissessar in her congratulatory message. Jaishankar has acknowledged the visit and expressed eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties.
What is the significance of India-Trinidad and Tobago relations?
India and Trinidad and Tobago share deep historical ties rooted in the Indo-Trinidadian diaspora, which traces its origins to 19th-century indentured labour migration. Bilateral cooperation covers trade, culture, and multilateral diplomacy, and Jaishankar's visit is expected to add fresh momentum to the partnership.
What did EAM Jaishankar say in response to T&T PM's message?
EAM Jaishankar thanked Persad-Bissessar for her "warm words of welcome" and said he looks forward to visiting Trinidad and Tobago soon to work with her and her team to further strengthen the India-Trinidad and Tobago relationship.
Nation Press
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