New Delhi | After joining the BJP ahead of the assembly polls, Indian tennis legend Leander Paes hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and said West Bengal "deserves better".
In a statement, Paes said India has witnessed a "transformative journey" over the past decade under Modi's "visionary leadership".
The country has made remarkable strides across sectors, with a strong emphasis on empowering youth and women, which has been especially inspiring, he said.
"I was born in Bengal and come from a family of Olympians who have worn the Tiranga across our chests with immense pride. This has shaped my legacy and instilled in me the values of discipline, dedication, and a deep sense of patriotism, with the objective of helping position India as a global sporting and economic superpower," Paes said.
"Having played professional sport globally, I feel Bengal deserves better," he said.
"I am also proud to be a descendant of Michael Madhusudan Dutt, a true nationalist who made immense contributions to Bengali and Indian literature.", he added.
Paes said that he has closely observed the aspirations and challenges of people across different parts of India, including the states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Assam.
"I believe there is immense potential everywhere. At the same time, many young people still face challenges in accessing opportunities and platforms to excel. Addressing these gaps will be key to unlocking India's full potential," he said.
"With this commitment, I join the BJP to contribute towards building a stronger, more inclusive, and prosperous India under the continued leadership and guidance of Narendra Modi ji," he added.
The tennis star had joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2021 and campaigned for the party during the Goa elections in 2022. He did not contest the elections.
"Congratulations! You’ve finally found your next Goa Chief Minister candidate. Yet another BOHIRAGOTO (outsider) parachuted into our state by BJP," the TMC said on X, reacting to Paes' joining the BJP.
In his statement, Paes promised that as a "dedicated" party worker, he will discharge every responsibility entrusted to me with sincerity and commitment.
"I firmly believe that India is scripting a powerful success story today, and I am eager to contribute meaningfully to this journey. With deep faith in the leadership of our Prime Minister, I have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," he said.
Paes further said that over the past few decades, his work in sports and youth development has been his "core strength, objective, and mission".
"I strongly believe that sport plays a vital role in nation-building, instilling a sense of community, discipline and resilience, while promoting health and well-being, " he said.
"I look forward to strengthening efforts to empower youth through sports and to creating greater opportunities for them across the country," he added.
Paes joined the BJP here on Tuesday ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections, saying it is "not just a formality but a responsibility" and also a big opportunity to serve the nation.
Welcoming him into the party, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hoped he would "now play a bigger innings in politics" from the BJP platform.
Paes, 52, joined the party in the presence of senior party leaders, including Rijiju and cabinet colleague Sukanta Majumdar, national general secretary Arun Singh and chief spokesperson Anil Baluni.
West Bengal, currently ruled by the TMC, is set to go to the polls in two phases on April 23 and 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.