Leander Paes, winner of 18 Grand Slam tennis titles, joined the BJP at its headquarters in New Delhi. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar were present. Paes's joining the party is being considered a major booster for the BJP ahead of the second phase of the Bengal elections.

Leander Paes has a strong image as a "clean" and global icon. Political experts believe that Paes has a strong influence in the urban areas of Kolkata and its surrounding areas. His arrival could help the BJP attract the urban middle class, youth, and sports lovers. The BJP may field him from a key seat in Kolkata.

Leander Paes is one of India's most successful tennis players. He made history by winning a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He is the only tennis player in the world to have participated in seven Olympic Games. Paes has won eight men's doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles in his career. He was also inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.

Voting for West Bengal's 294 assembly seats will be held in two phases. The first phase will be held on April 23rd, while the second phase will be held on April 29th. The election results will be declared on May 4th. This time, the contest is expected to be very close between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the emerging BJP.

Voting will take place in the region where Leander Paes holds influence (Kolkata/Urban Bengal) in the second phase. Voting will take place on April 29th in districts like Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, and North and South 24 Parganas. The BJP hopes that Paes's name will give the party an edge in these seats. Currently, Paes is also holding the responsibility of the post of President of Bengal Tennis Association.