March 31, 2026 03:22 pm (IST)

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Leander Paes

Leander Paes joins BJP at the party's national headquarters. Photo: BJP Media Unit

Tennis icon Leander Paes joins BJP ahead of Bengal polls

India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms | Mar 31, 2026, at 01:14 pm

New Delhi/IBNS: Indian tennis icon Leander Paes joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections.

Tennis icon Leander Paes joins BJP ahead of West Bengal assembly elections#LeanderPaes #BJP #WestBengal #BengalPolitics #TMC #IndianPolitics pic.twitter.com/cZXUqRMK7R
— India Blooms (@indiablooms) March 31, 2026

Paes, who had joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2021, formally switched sides at the party headquarters in the national capital.

He was inducted into the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sukanta Majumdar.

Paes is one of India’s most celebrated tennis players, known for his remarkable longevity and success on the global stage.

LIVE: Press conference at BJP HQ, New Delhi. https://t.co/dmeragHP6B
— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) March 31, 2026

He rose to prominence after winning a historic bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Indian in decades to secure an individual Olympic medal.

Over the years, Paes established himself as a doubles specialist of the highest order, winning 18 Grand Slam titles—eight in men’s doubles and ten in mixed doubles. His contributions to the India Davis Cup team were equally significant, where he played a crucial role in several memorable victories, earning a reputation as a fierce competitor and leader.

Beyond tennis, Paes gradually stepped into public life and politics. In 2021, he joined the TMC ahead of the Goa Assembly elections, marking his formal entry into the political arena. His move was seen as an attempt to expand the party’s outreach beyond West Bengal.

#Leander Paes BJP # Leander Paes joins BJP # Leander Paes TMC exit # West Bengal elections # BJP West Bengal # TMC news # Indian tennis star politics # Kiren Rijiju # Sukanta Majumdar # BJP induction # political news India # Bengal politics

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