New Delhi [India], March 31 (ANI): Olympic medalist and former ace Tennis star Leander Paes on Tuesday formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) within the presence of Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sukanta Majumdar, marking his entry into the political area forward of the upcoming electoral season.
The tennis legend Leander Paes beforehand debuted in politics with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC in 2021, and has formally joined the BJP at this time.
Expressing his gratitude for the brand new platform, the tennis ace remarked, ‘Today is a giant day in my life. I need to thank the PM, HM, and Nitin Nabin ji. I’m actually grateful for the way in which the BJP has given me this chance to serve sports activities, sports activities schooling, and the youth.’
Welcoming the sporting legend into the celebration fold, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, stated, ‘This is a second to have fun as the long-lasting Leander Paes has joined BJP. I clearly foresee that you’ll play a much bigger innings on the BJP platform. Your becoming a member of the BJP will make sure that the Khelo India motion features additional momentum.’
Emphasising the importance of the athlete’s lineage through the becoming a member of ceremony, Union Minister Sukant Majumdar remarked, ‘I welcome Tennis icon Leander Paes to the BJP. Today is a superb day for us. He conjures up Bengal youth together with his Tennis. For the upcoming polls, he’ll increase our celebration. There is a transparent indication that there’s a wave of saffron now…Leander Paes is the direct descendant of the famend Nineteenth-century Bengali poet and dramatist, Michael Madhusudan Dutt.’
Crediting the management for the nation’s sporting progress, Leander Paes Kehlo additional stated, ‘I performed for the nation for 40 years, now it is time to serve the youth. Kehlo India Movement and TOPS scheme are actually nice. I do know with how a lot ardour Kiren Rijijiu ji has labored in direction of our contingent’s efficiency within the Tokyo Olympics. He fulfilled his accountability given to him by the PM. Today, India is the youngest nation on the earth. We ought to deal with sports activities schooling within the subsequent 20-25 years. In 1986, in West Bengal, there was not a lot sports activities infrastructure. Even at this time, there isn’t a indoor tennis courtroom within the nation. Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Bihar can do higher, however we have to deal with inspiring and empowering youth in sports activities schooling…My dream is to convey a program for equal alternative scholarship for girls empowerment in India…’
Meanwhile, Leander Paes, who nonetheless holds the crown of essentially the most profitable tennis participant within the nation, has loved unprecedented success on the courtroom and joined Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Goa in 2021.
Paes is a legend who will at all times be remembered for popularising tennis in India and for his contribution to the game. He obtained the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India’s highest sporting honour, in 1996-97, the Arjuna Award in 1990, the Padma Shri award in 2001 and India’s third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan prize in January 2014. (ANI)