Olympic medallist and tennis player Leander Paes joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. The induction took place in Delhi in the presence of Union minister Kiren Rijiju.
Paes said he will campaign in support of the BJP in West Bengal, where elections are set to be held in phases. The first phase of polling for 152 constituencies is scheduled for April 23, followed by the second phase for 142 constituencies on April 29.
The contest in the state is expected to be closely watched, with Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and the BJP-led alliance in the fray, while the Congress is contesting on its own.
Following his entry into the party, there is growing public interest in whether Paes will be given an opportunity to contest the election.
