leander paes crossed the BJP On Tuesday, he walked out from the Trinamool Congress after a brief stint.At the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Paes, 52, described the move as a new “responsibility” after four decades in the sport. He thanked PM Narendra Modi for the opportunity, saying, “I have played for the country… I now want to serve the youth and the countrymen.” Party officials projected the tennis legend’s entry as a nod to urban voters and the youth demographic, pushing back against criticism that the BJP focuses only on Hindu issues.Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar called Paes a “son of Bengal”, citing his upbringing in Kolkata and lineage linked to 19th-century poet and playwright Michael Madhusudan Dutt. Party officials hope his profile as a Christian, of Goan origin and raised in Kolkata, will increase his reach among non-Hindu communities and the urban middle class.Paes had met BJP national president Nitin Nabin in Kolkata last week, fueling speculation. He was joined by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju along with senior leaders. BJP insiders said his closeness to Rijiju dates back to 2019-21, when Rijiju held the sports department.“We have 745 million youth. We need to build a future for them,” Paes said.Rijiju called the entry a “proud moment”, and described Paes as an icon inspired by the government’s sports promotion.Paes joined Trinamool in 2021 and campaigned in the Goa elections during the party’s expansion attempt which later failed.Trinamool’s reaction ranged from subdued to sharp. An official declined to comment. Another said, “The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 will be discussed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Our MP Saugata Roy will speak against it. Paes is expected to express his views on this as Trinamool and the Christian community are strongly opposing the bill. Now when he campaigns, we hope he will speak openly on anti-conversion laws in 13 states.“Voices came in a mixed tone from sports and Christian circles. Former Indian Davis Cup captain Jaideep Mukherjee said that players should focus on the game. “It is also not appropriate to join the party just before the assembly elections…the timing is wrong,” he said. Father Gregory Monteiro described the move as unexpected but a personal choice, with hopes it would benefit the community.