Ahead of the West Bengal elections, Indian tennis legend Leander Paes joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, March 31, in Delhi, in the presence of senior leaders including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar.
Paes had recently met BJP chief Nitin Nabin in Kolkata, fueling speculation about his entry into the party.
Previously, he had joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 and campaigned for the party during the 2022 Goa elections, although he did not contest any polls.
Hailing from Kolkata, Leander Paes is regarded as one of the greatest doubles players in tennis history. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, he won multiple Grand Slam titles and played a pivotal role in establishing India’s presence on the global tennis stage.”
Athelete who joined BJP
Among the recent entrants is India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who joined the party in September 2024, following his wife. Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal became a BJP member in January 2020 and has frequently cited the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and programs like Khelo India.
Other sportspersons who have joined the party include former cricketer Chetan Chauhan, wrestlers Yogeshwar Dutt and Babita Phogat, and ex-footballer Kalyan Chaubey. Boxer Vijender Singh joined the BJP on April 3, 2024, after previously being associated with the Congress party.
Polling for the West Bengal Assembly elections will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.
The Trinamool Congress has announced candidates for all 294 seats, and the nomination process for the first-phase constituencies is already underway.
On Tuesday, the BJP released its fourth list of candidates, adding nominees for 13 more constituencies, bringing the total declared so far to 288 out of 294 seats.”
