Watch: Leander Paes Joins BJP Ahead of West Bengal Elections

March 31, 2026: Tennis legend Leander Paes has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), making a surprising move into active politics. This comes at a time when political activity is increasing ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections later this year. His entry is expected to give a boost to the party’s campaign in the state.

Paes, a former world No. 1 doubles player, was recently seen meeting top BJP leaders in Delhi. Reports say the talks were about his joining the party and his possible role in the upcoming election campaign. He said that after playing for India for 40 years, he now wants to work for the youth. He also praised government programs like Khelo India and TOPS, and appreciated the efforts of Kiren Rijiju for supporting athletes.

Focus on youth and sports development

Paes said that India has a very young population, and this is a big opportunity for the future. He believes the country should focus more on sports education in the next 20–25 years. He also spoke about the lack of sports facilities, especially indoor tennis courts, and shared that even in the past, places like West Bengal did not have enough infrastructure.

With his strong sports background and interest in youth development, Paes’s entry into the BJP is seen as an important step. It may help the party connect better with young people and promote sports and education ahead of the elections.

#WATCH | Delhi | Former ace Tennis star Leander Paes joins the BJP. He says, "It is a big day in my life. I would like to thank PM Modi, Amit Shah ji and Nitin Nabin ji. This is a big opportunity for me to serve sports and youth...I played for the country for 40 years, now it's… pic.twitter.com/BgSwHBB5p3

— ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2026

Who is Leander Paes?

Leander Paes is a former world number one player in men’s doubles and one of India’s greatest tennis stars. He has won five Wimbledon Championships titles (one in men’s doubles and four in mixed doubles) and a total of 18 Grand Slam titles in his career. In 1999, he teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi and won his first Wimbledon title. The pair went on to win three Grand Slams together and are seen as one of India’s best tennis duos.

Paes also did well in singles. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, he won a bronze medal for India. In the semi-final, he played against former world number one Andre Agassi and gave a strong fight, even though he had a wrist injury.

This is not the first time Paes has joined politics. In 2021, he joined the Trinamool Congress in Goa and took part in campaigning for the 2022 state elections.

How Paes’s inclusion can help BJP

With Leander Paes joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party hopes to attract urban and middle-class voters, especially in Kolkata and nearby areas of south Bengal. These areas are usually strongholds of the Trinamool Congress, and the BJP has found it difficult to gain support there.

Kolkata has 11 assembly seats, but the BJP did not win any of them in the 2016 and 2021 state elections. The party also performed poorly in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections in this region. Earlier, there were talks that Sourav Ganguly might join the BJP, but he denied these reports and said he was not interested in politics.

Now, the BJP is looking for a popular and respected face who can connect with educated urban voters in South Bengal. Paes’s image and achievements may help the party improve its reach in these areas.