Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut defended his letter to US President Donald Trump regarding congratulatory remarks made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the BJP’s sweeping victory in the West Bengal
Assembly elections, saying it was his “duty” to highlight concerns being raised over the democratic process.
Sanjay Raut questioned why foreign leaders would congratulate PM Modi over a state election outcome and alleged that democratic institutions in India were under pressure.
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“I believe the news is false. If Modi wins the Gram Panchayat elections tomorrow, will President Trump, Macron, and Starmer congratulate Modi? America is the largest democratic country. So is India. The whole world knows what is going on in the name of democracy in India. Rahul Gandhi, Uddhav Thackeray and Mamata Banerjee have repeatedly expressed their views,” Sanjay Raut said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said he wanted the international community to take note of allegations surrounding the electoral process, including claims regarding the role of constitutional institutions and the deployment of central forces during the elections.
“I feel it is my duty to correct President Donald Trump. The world should also know what is going on in the name of democracy in this country, in West Bengal, in Tamil Nadu, and in Assam. I will not believe that Donald Trump read my tweet, but I did my duty… These BJP people are tarnishing Modi’s image,” he said.
Sanjay Raut also criticised the role of Governors in opposition-ruled states, particularly in Tamil Nadu, alleging that Raj Bhavans were functioning in favour of the BJP.
“BJP agents sitting in the Raj Bhavan, and it’s named Lok Bhavan. But in Lok Bhavan, people’s sentiments and votes are murdered. The party with 108 members should be called first. This is what our Constitution says,” he remarked.
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Backing Mamata Banerjee after the election setback, Sanjay Raut said opposition parties would unite behind her in what he described as a fight to “save democracy.”
“Now, Mamata will fight. We will all join Mamata in her fight. Uddhav Thackeray has spoken to her. The fight to save democracy will continue across the country, and we will all join in,” he said.
Sanjay Raut further alleged that the BJP’s rise to power often led to deterioration in law and order.
“There is no law and order issue. Wherever the BJP goes and forms the government, it automatically disrupts the law and order there,” he alleged.
Earlier, Sanjay Raut had addressed Trump in a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), objecting to the US President congratulating PM Modi over the BJP’s victory in West Bengal.
“Dear President @realDonaldTrump Greetings. As a Member of Parliament from India, I write in response to reports of your congratulations to PM Narendra Modi on the West Bengal Assembly election results. These are state-level elections- an internal matter of India’s federal democracy. Any external endorsement appears premature and misplaced,” he wrote.
The BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had governed the state for the past 15 years, secured 80 seats.
