Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has written to US President Donald Trump, questioning his decision to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the West Bengal Assembly election results. Raut stated that the polls were an internal matter of India's federal democracy and that any external endorsement was premature and misplaced.

Raut's letter, shared on social media, claimed that serious concerns had emerged over the conduct of the Bengal elections, including allegations of an atmosphere of fear, systemic pressure, and questions over the neutrality of the Election Commission.

The BJP has secured a historic win in West Bengal, ending the 15-year hold on power of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.

The White House had described the election victory as historic and decisive, with Trump expressing his admiration for PM Modi in a phone call last month.

The immediate next steps will involve continued scrutiny of the election results, with opposition parties alleging misuse of institutions and the BJP rejecting the accusations as baseless. The Indian government is expected to respond to the concerns raised by Raut and other opposition leaders.