Leander Paes joins BJP, sets sights on Bengal elections, rooks political boat

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Former tennis player Leander Paes has joined the BJP ahead of the 2026 West Bengal elections. He joined the party at its Delhi headquarters on Tuesday in the presence of Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sukanta Majumdar. Paes had been associated with the Trinamool Congress since 2021.

Leander Paes' joining the BJP ahead of the 294-member assembly elections in West Bengal is being seen as a major blow to the Trinamool Congress. It's worth noting that BJP President Nitin Naveen met with Leander Paes during his visit to West Bengal, and Soumik Bhattacharya also attended the meeting. Since then, speculation has been rife that Paes might soon join the BJP. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju welcomed Paes into the party with a bouquet of flowers and a BJP membership slip.

Leander Paes expressed his happiness at joining the BJP. He described it as the biggest day of his life. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President Nitin Naveen. He said, "I will always be grateful for the opportunity the BJP has given me to serve this country and its youth."

Before entering politics, Leander Paes achieved many significant achievements in the world of tennis. He won a total of 18 Grand Slam titles in his career, including eight doubles and 10 mixed doubles titles. He also won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He is the only tennis player to represent India in seven consecutive Olympics.

Leander Paes also dominated the Davis Cup, becoming one of the tournament's most successful players with 45 wins. In 2024, Leander Paes was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, becoming the first Asian male player to achieve this distinction.