Tennis legend Leander Paes, one of India's most decorated Olympic athletes, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday in New Delhi, marking his second foray into electoral politics and the BJP's latest celebrity recruitment ahead of crucial West Bengal assembly elections.
The 53-year-old former Davis Cup captain, who previously aligned with the Trinamool Congress in 2021, joined the BJP at an event attended by senior party leaders. While the party has not announced his specific electoral role, sources suggest Paes may campaign across West Bengal and potentially contest from a constituency with significant Anglo-Indian or cosmopolitan demographics.
"I have always believed in service to the nation," Paes said at the joining ceremony. "The BJP's vision for development and its commitment to sporting excellence align with my values." He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives for sports infrastructure and athlete welfare.
The move represents a significant political shift for Paes, who had joined Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2021 West Bengal elections but did not contest. His departure from TMC to BJP highlights the fluid nature of celebrity political affiliations in Indian electoral politics.
In India, as across the subcontinent, scale and diversity make simple narratives impossible—and fascinating. Political parties across the spectrum recruit sports stars, film actors, and cultural figures to leverage their public recognition and connect with voters beyond traditional political bases.
Paes's sporting credentials are formidable—18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles, a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (India's first individual Olympic medal in 44 years), and a record-setting Davis Cup career spanning 30 years. His father, , represented India in hockey at the 1972 Olympics.
