leander paes crossed over to BJP on Tuesday, exiting the Trinamool Congress after a short stint.At BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Paes, 52, framed the transfer as a brand new “accountability” after 4 a long time in sport. “I’ve performed for the nation… I want to serve youth and countrymen now,” he mentioned, thanking PM Narendra Modi for the chance. Celebration officers pitched the tennis legend’s entry as a sign to city voters and youthful demographics, pushing again in opposition to criticism that the BJP focuses narrowly on Hindu causes.Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar referred to as Paes “a son of Bengal”, citing his upbringing in Kolkata and lineage tracing again to Nineteenth-century poet and playwright Michael Madhusudan Dutt. Celebration officers anticipate his profile — Christian, Goan roots, Kolkata upbringing — to widen outreach amongst non-Hindu communities and the city center class.Paes had met BJP nationwide president Nitin Nabin in Kolkata final week, fueling hypothesis. He was inducted by the minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju together with senior netas. BJP insiders mentioned his proximity to Rijiju dates again to 2019–21, when the latter dealt with the sports activities portfolio.“Now we have 74.5 crore youth. We have to construct a future for them,” Paes mentioned.Rijiju referred to as the entry a “second of delight”, describing Paes as an iconic determine impressed by the federal government’s sports activities push.Paes had joined Trinamool in 2021 and campaigned within the Goa polls through the social gathering’s enlargement try that later faltered.Trinamool’s response ranged from guarded to pointed. One official declined to remark. One other mentioned, “The International Contribution (Regulation) Modification Invoice, 2026, will likely be mentioned in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Our MP, Saugata Roy, will communicate in opposition to it. Hopefully, Paes will specific his views on this since Trinamool and the Christian neighborhood oppose the invoice strongly. Now that he’ll marketing campaign, we hope he’ll open up on the anti-conversion statutes in 13 states.“Voices from sports activities and Christian circles struck blended notes. Former India Davis Cup captain Jaidip Mukerjea mentioned sportspersons ought to give attention to sport. “Becoming a member of simply earlier than meeting elections additionally is not correct… timing mistaken,” he mentioned. Father Gregory Monteiro referred to as the transfer surprising however a private alternative, hoping it could profit the neighborhood.