Leander Paes joins BJP, vows to work for youth and sports development
Indian tennis icon Leander Paes on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi, marking a new chapter in his public life as the country heads into a season of crucial elections.
Paes, one of India’s most celebrated athletes, formally took party membership at the BJP headquarters in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and party leaders.
Calling the moment significant, Paes said joining the party was both an honour and a responsibility.
“It’s a big day of my life. I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Nitin Nabin for giving me the opportunity to serve the people and youth of this country. BJP membership is a responsibility on me,” Paes said after joining the party.
Political journey from TMC to BJP
Paes’ entry into the BJP comes years after his brief association with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). In October 2021, he had joined the party in Goa in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee when the TMC attempted to expand its political footprint beyond West Bengal.
The move was part of a strategy guided by political consultant Prashant Kishor and the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which aimed to challenge the Congress’ political space in Goa. However, the attempt did not translate into electoral success.
Interestingly, Paes had earlier joined the TMC in 2014 as well but did not actively pursue politics at the time.
A decorated sporting career
Born in Kolkata and currently residing in Goa, Paes comes from a sporting family. His father Vece Paes was a member of India’s bronze medal-winning hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, while his mother Jennifer Paes captained the Indian women’s basketball team.
Paes rose to national fame after winning a bronze medal in men’s singles tennis at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Indian tennis player in decades to secure an Olympic medal.
Over his long career, Paes has won 18 Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles competitions, including victories at the US Open, Wimbledon Championships, Australian Open and French Open.
In recognition of his achievements, he has received some of India’s highest sporting honours, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
In 2024, Paes was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside global tennis greats such as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Focus on youth and sports development
Speaking about his priorities in public life, Paes emphasised the importance of youth empowerment and sports development in India.
He praised the government’s sports initiatives, particularly the Khelo India Movement, calling it a “game changer” for the country’s sports ecosystem.
“We have 745 million youth in this country. We need to build a future for them. Sports infrastructure and sports education must grow, and we must empower every young boy and girl,” Paes said.
He also highlighted the need for improved sports infrastructure, noting that India lacks indoor tennis facilities and advocating equal pay opportunities for male and female athletes.
BJP calls entry historic
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju welcomed Paes’ entry into the BJP, calling it a historic moment for the party.
“There is no need for a separate introduction for Leander Paes. Inspired by the work Prime Minister Modi has done for sports and athletes over the past decade, Leander Paes has joined the BJP family,” Rijiju said.
With his entry into politics under the BJP banner, attention is now turning to Paes’ potential role in the party, especially as several important elections approach in states such as West Bengal and Goa.
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