Tennis legend Leander Paes joins BJP ahead of West Bengal Assembly polls
Mangalore Today News Network
Kolkata, Mar 31, 2026: Tennis legend Leander Paes joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, intensifying the political landscape ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026.
Paes formally entered the party in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. His move comes just weeks before the two-phase elections scheduled for April 23 and April 29.
The development follows his recent meeting with BJP leader Nitin Nabin in Kolkata, which had fueled speculation about his political shift.
#WATCH | Delhi: Former ace Tennis star Leander Paes joins the BJP, in the presence of Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sukanta Majumdar. pic.twitter.com/qIDW1OovWz
— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2026
Welcoming him, Rijiju described Paes’ induction as “historic” and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting sports and athletes over the past decade.
Paes had earlier joined the All India Trinamool Congress in 2021 and campaigned for the party during the 2022 Goa elections, though he did not contest.