Once With Trinamool, Tennis Icon Leander Paes Now Joins BJP Ahead Of Polls

In October 2021, tennis legend Leander Paes took the Trinamool Congress (TMC) flag from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Goa. The Trinamool Congress had decided to contest elections in Goa following its landslide victory in its home state of West Bengal.
Under the guidance of then Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) chief Prashant Kishor, the TMC attempted to break into Congress’ space in Goa, onboarded a few big faces, but stumbled at the end, leaving behind its hopes of “expanding its national footprint.” However, this was not the first time Paes had made a foray into politics. He had joined the TMC in 2014 but did not pursue active politics then.
Five years later, Paes officially joined the BJP in New Delhi. “It’s a big day of my life. I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Nitin Nabin. I have been given the opportunity by the BJP to serve the people and youth of this country. BJP membership is a responsibility on me,” he said at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.