The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, after he addressed US President Donald Trump regarding the recent West Bengal Assembly election results. Raut questioned Trump's reported congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that such external endorsements are premature and that the elections are an internal matter of India's federal democracy. He raised concerns about the conduct of the elections, alleging intimidation and systemic pressure. In response, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla labeled Raut as the 'joker of Indian politics' and accused him of attempting to tarnish India's image for political gain. Poonawalla emphasized that India's democracy is being recognized globally and criticized the opposition for spreading false narratives about the electoral process. Raut further claimed that the Election Commission acted in a biased manner favoring the BJP, which he argued undermines the credibility of the elections. He called for a balanced perspective from Trump, asserting that democracy involves ensuring elections are free and fair.