Tennis legend Leander Paes on Tuesday joined the BJP at the party headquarters in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. The tennis star had recently met BJP chief Nitin Nabin in Kolkata, setting off speculation about him joining the party.Paes had joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 and campaigned for the party during the Goa elections in 2022. He did not contest the elections.
Polling for the West Bengal assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while votes will be counted on May 4.The Trinamool Congress has already announced candidates for all 294 seats, and the nomination process for the constituencies going to the first phase of polling has already begun.The BJP on Tuesday released the fourth list for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections, naming candidates for 13 more constituencies, taking the total number of nominees declared so far to 288 for the 294-member assembly.
Welcoming Paes into the party, Majumdar said, "Bengal BJP is lucky to have Paes and is a big boost for the party ahead of the polls. Paes will campaign for us in the upcoming West Bengal elections." "It is a indeed a proud moment for BJP that someone who has taken forward the legacy of lawn tennis in our country and inspired many to take up the sport has joined our party," said Majumdar adding that Paes will play a significant role that will tilt the balance in favour of BJP in the upcoming Bengal polls.