Game, set, politics? Leander Paes's meeting with Bengal BJP chief sparks buzz
A high-profile meeting, past political shifts and election timing, Leander Paes's latest move has triggered fresh speculation over his next step, with signals pointing towards a possible role in Bengal politics.
A meeting between tennis icon Leander Paes and BJP leadership has set off fresh speculation over his possible entry into politics ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
Paes met BJP national president Nitin Nabin in Kolkata on Tuesday evening, with state unit chief Samik Bhattacharya also present, adding weight to the buzz around his political plans.
Sources indicated that Paes’s formal entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party could take place soon in Delhi, signalling that discussions may have moved beyond initial outreach.
The development comes at a crucial time, with the Bengal Assembly elections just weeks away.
PAST POLITICAL LINKS RESURFACE
Paes’s reported engagement with the BJP marks a notable shift, given his earlier association with the All India Trinamool Congress.
In October 2021, he had joined the party in Goa, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed him and described him as a “younger brother”.
However, he was left out of the party’s 69-member Goa state committee announced in January 2022, raising questions about his role at the time.
BJP STEPS UP BENGAL PUSH
The meeting coincided with Nabin’s two-day visit to Kolkata aimed at sharpening the party’s election strategy.
He chaired a series of high-level meetings with state leaders, focusing on campaign planning, digital outreach and booth-level organisation.
Party insiders described the strategy as a multi-layered “Chakravyuh”, aimed at strengthening narrative-building and micro-level mobilisation across constituencies.
Closed-door consultations with senior leaders also signalled a strong push from the central leadership to intensify efforts in the state.
POLL DATES ANNOUNCED
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results scheduled for May 4.
With the campaign entering a decisive phase, Paes’s meeting with the BJP leadership has added a fresh political twist, leaving open the question of whether the tennis legend is set for a new innings in public life.
A meeting between tennis icon Leander Paes and BJP leadership has set off fresh speculation over his possible entry into politics ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
Paes met BJP national president Nitin Nabin in Kolkata on Tuesday evening, with state unit chief Samik Bhattacharya also present, adding weight to the buzz around his political plans.
Sources indicated that Paes’s formal entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party could take place soon in Delhi, signalling that discussions may have moved beyond initial outreach.
The development comes at a crucial time, with the Bengal Assembly elections just weeks away.
PAST POLITICAL LINKS RESURFACE
Paes’s reported engagement with the BJP marks a notable shift, given his earlier association with the All India Trinamool Congress.
In October 2021, he had joined the party in Goa, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed him and described him as a “younger brother”.
However, he was left out of the party’s 69-member Goa state committee announced in January 2022, raising questions about his role at the time.
BJP STEPS UP BENGAL PUSH
The meeting coincided with Nabin’s two-day visit to Kolkata aimed at sharpening the party’s election strategy.
He chaired a series of high-level meetings with state leaders, focusing on campaign planning, digital outreach and booth-level organisation.
Party insiders described the strategy as a multi-layered “Chakravyuh”, aimed at strengthening narrative-building and micro-level mobilisation across constituencies.
Closed-door consultations with senior leaders also signalled a strong push from the central leadership to intensify efforts in the state.
POLL DATES ANNOUNCED
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with results scheduled for May 4.
With the campaign entering a decisive phase, Paes’s meeting with the BJP leadership has added a fresh political twist, leaving open the question of whether the tennis legend is set for a new innings in public life.
