Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: Lawn tennis legend Leander Paes has switched political allegiances ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections. He had originally joined the Trinamool Congress in October 2021—prior to the Goa Assembly elections—in Panaji, joining the party under the mentorship of Mamata Banerjee. Now, ahead of the 2026 polls, he has traded the 'Grass Flower' (Trinamool's symbol) for the 'Lotus' (BJP's symbol). Paes officially joined the BJP on Tuesday.
Immediately upon joining the BJP, Paes stated that his decision was driven by the specific objective of empowering the country's youth. According to him, he drew inspiration from Narendra Modi and Kiren Rijiju. He noted that his desire to learn from their work and leadership is what ultimately led him down this path.
Addressing the youth, his message was: "In the days to come, India must be built into a global superpower. I wish to work towards that very goal. It is also my hope that the country achieves even greater success in the realm of sports." Speaking about his new political innings, Paes remarked, "This is a momentous day in my life. For the past 40 years, I have played tennis for the country; now, I have been granted the opportunity to serve the nation in a different capacity."
Prior to this, speculation had already begun swirling following a meeting he held in Kolkata on March 24 with the BJP's National President. At that time, indications emerged suggesting that Paes's entry into the BJP was all but certain. Ultimately, that speculation has now come true.
Even before formally entering politics, Paes had frequently been the subject of speculation regarding his political future. Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he had even held a meeting with Rahul Gandhi. Later, when he joined the Trinamool Congress, there was talk that he might be fielded as a candidate—though that ultimately did not materialize.
It remains unclear whether he will contest the upcoming elections as a candidate this time around. However, according to a section of the political establishment, Paes could potentially play a significant role in sports administration in the future. In particular, his wealth of experience could prove invaluable in the ongoing efforts to build the necessary infrastructure across the country, with the specific goal of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games in mind. All in all, Leander Paes's switch of political allegiance ahead of the elections is not merely altering political calculations; it has also sparked a renewed discussion regarding the intersection of sports and politics.