T&T PM congratulates Modi on BJP's historic West Bengal win
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
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.