Leander Paes Joins BJP Ahead of West Bengal Assembly Elections

Legendary tennis player Leander Paes has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party today. He became a member of the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. The move is believed to be influenced by the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

A few days earlier, speculation about his entry into the BJP gained momentum after Paes met BJP national leader Nitin Nabin in Kolkata. Previously, in 2021, he had joined the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. During the 2022 Goa elections, he also campaigned for the party, although he did not contest any election directly.

After joining the BJP, Paes stated that he has represented the country for nearly 40 years of his life. He highlighted his participation in numerous international tournaments, bringing honor to the nation at prestigious platforms such as the Davis Cup and the Olympics. He mentioned that he is now stepping into a new field and expressed gratitude to those who entrusted him with this responsibility. He added that he aims to serve the country and the youth. Paes also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah and Nitin Nabin.