The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (May 8, 2026) called Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut the “joker of Indian politics" over his post addressed to the U.S. President Donald Trump on the West Bengal Assembly election results, and accused the Opposition of "besmirching" India's image internationally.
In a post on X addressed to Mr. Trump, Mr. Raut on Friday (May 8, 2026) questioned reports of the U.S. President congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the BJP's victory in West Bengal and said the polls are an "internal matter of India's federal democracy" and any external endorsement appears premature and misplaced.
The Rajya Sabha MP claimed that "serious concerns" have emerged regarding the conduct of the elections and alleged that there were complaints of "fear, intimidation and systemic pressure." Hitting back, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Mr. Raut, as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, makes such statements in opposition to Mr. Modi.
"Sanjay Raut is the joker of Indian politics. He and Rahul Gandhi have taken a 'supari' (contract) to besmirch India's image for domestic political petty battles and in Modi's opposition they oppose the country," Mr. Poonawalla said in a video post on X.
