Tennis Legend Leander Paes Joins BJP Ahead of West Bengal Polls

New Delhi, March 31 (TNA) Tennis legend Leander Paes formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi, marking his latest political move ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Before the formal joining, Paes met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and later interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlining the BJP’s eagerness to position him as a prominent campaign face in Bengal.

Paes, a former Olympic medallist and Grand Slam champion, had earlier joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 but remained largely inactive in frontline politics, which fueled speculation about his next political alignment.

His shift to the BJP is being viewed as part of the party’s strategy to leverage celebrity and sports icons to attract younger and aspirational voters in the crucial West Bengal battle. Party sources indicate that he is likely to campaign actively across the state and may be considered for a seat in the upcoming Assembly polls, though an official ticket has not yet been confirmed.