New Delhi: In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, Indian tennis great Leander Paes formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, marking a high-profile shift in allegiance.
Paes, who had earlier entered politics with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2021, made the switch at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. He was welcomed into the party in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar.
LIVE: Press conference at BJP HQ, New Delhi. https://t.co/dmeragHP6B
— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) March 31, 2026
Widely regarded as one of India’s finest tennis players, Paes boasts a career spanning decades at the highest level of the sport. He shot to national fame after clinching a historic bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, ending a long wait for an individual Olympic podium finish for India.
A master of doubles, Paes has an illustrious record of 18 Grand Slam titles—eight in men’s doubles and ten in mixed doubles. His legacy also includes stellar performances in the Davis Cup, where he emerged as a key figure in several of India’s memorable victories, earning admiration for his grit and leadership.
Paes’ entry into politics began in 2021 when he joined the TMC ahead of the Goa Assembly elections, a move aimed at broadening the party’s national footprint. His latest shift to the BJP now adds a new dimension to the political landscape as parties gear up for a crucial electoral battle in West Bengal.
