India’s famous former tennis player Leander Paes has now officially joined BJP. Paes took membership of the party in the presence of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP National Secretary Sukant Majumdar at an event organized in New Delhi. Paes’s joining the BJP is being considered an important part of the party’s strategy for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, especially to increase the party’s reach in Kolkata and urban areas. Now Leander Paes’ name has also been added to the list of big faces from the sports world who have entered politics, which is expected to help BJP strengthen its presence in the state.
There was talk of Leander Paes entering political circles for a long time. He had met BJP President Nitin Naveen some time ago during his West Bengal tour. Other state BJP leader Soumik Bhattacharya was also present in this meeting, after which speculations about Paes’s political future had intensified. Now by joining BJP, Paes has put an end to all these speculations and has started his new innings in active politics. His move has intensified the stir in Bengal politics.
The joining of sports personalities in BJP is not a new phenomenon, rather it has been a part of a well-thought-out strategy of the party. Even before Leander Paes, many great players from different sports have joined BJP. Many of them contested Lok Sabha or Assembly elections, some became Union Ministers and some are playing their role in Parliament as Rajya Sabha MPs. This strategy helps BJP reach out to voters across different social and age groups.
The most prominent name in this list is that of former Union Minister and Olympic medalist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Rathore, who won a silver medal in shooting at the 2004 Athens Olympics, had joined BJP around 2004. He has been a former Union Minister and till now is known as the player who has reached the highest position in politics by joining BJP. His achievement has been a source of inspiration for BJP that sports stars can shine in politics also.
World famous badminton player Saina Nehwal also took membership of BJP in the year 2020. She is an active member of the party and makes her presence felt in various campaign campaigns and events. Many big names from the cricket world are also associated with BJP. Indian team all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja joined BJP in 2024. He is an active member of the party, although he does not currently hold any electoral post. It is interesting that his wife Rivaba Jadeja is already a BJP MLA in Gujarat, which shows that BJP has been successful in roping in cricketers and their families as well.
Other prominent players include wrestling star Babita Phogat, former cricketer Kirti Azad (who later left the party), Chetan Chauhan (former cricketer and minister in the UP government), fast bowler S. Sreesanth, famous footballer Kalyan Choubey (who has contested elections from West Bengal), and boxing legend Vijender Singh have also been or are currently part of the BJP. Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was also in BJP at one time and was also an MP, but later he left the party and joined Congress. This extensive list underlines the BJP’s strategy of using popular faces to strengthen its hold in various states and communities.
With Leander Paes joining BJP, the party is expected to get the most benefit in West Bengal. Paes was born in Kolkata and has a deep emotional connection with the city and the entire state. He has a huge and dedicated fan following, which can attract a huge vote bank for BJP. In the West Bengal assembly elections, where BJP is trying to further strengthen its position, Paes’s arrival could prove to be an important strategic move.
If Leander Paes is made a candidate in any election in future, it will help the party to have a direct impact on the upper-middle class and urban vote bank. Paes’s image is that of a successful, respected and educated sportsperson, who is able to attract urban voters, especially those who stay away from traditional politics. Additionally, bringing Paes to the party as an international sports icon will send a positive and inspirational message among the youth as well. With such a big name from the sports world joining BJP, the youth will also be attracted and a good perception will be created about the party among the sports lovers.
Increasing youth vote percentage can directly benefit BJP, especially in a state where the number of youth voters plays a decisive role. BJP’s strategy is to bring forward such faces who are popular among the youth and urban population and through them the party can strengthen its base. Leander Paes’s joining BJP is being considered a big and proven step in this direction, due to which significant changes can be seen in the politics of West Bengal in the coming times and the party can strengthen its electoral prospects.
