New Delhi, April 1 (NationPress) Tennis icon Leander Paes has conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to Home Minister Amit Shah for welcoming him into the Bharatiya Janata Party. He expressed a commitment to honor this trust with unwavering dedication and sincerity.

In a message shared on platform X, Paes stated, "I am deeply honored and thankful to Shri Amit Shah Ji @AmitShah for inducting me into the Bharatiya Janata Party @BJP4India and placing his trust in me. I am determined to meet this expectation with dedication and integrity. Until today, I displayed the Tiranga on my chest. Now, I carry it on my shoulders as I aim to empower our youth and enhance sports across the nation. Jai Bharat Jai Hind!" Paes had a meeting with Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday.

In a further social media update, Paes reaffirmed his dedication to prioritizing youth development and the advancement of sports in India after his BJP induction earlier on Tuesday, right before the elections in West Bengal.

He also expressed gratitude to Nitin Nabin, the BJP's national president, for having faith in him.

"I extend my heartfelt thanks to Shri Nitin Nabin Ji @NitinNabin for his pivotal role, encouragement, and belief in me as I embark on this new journey with the Bharatiya Janata Party. I am committed to working with integrity towards youth empowerment and sports development in our nation. Jai Bharat Jai Hind," Paes mentioned in a post on platform X, previously known as Twitter.

Paes officially joined the BJP in New Delhi, surrounded by senior party figures, shortly after meeting with the state BJP chief, Nitin Nabin, in Kolkata, which had sparked speculation regarding his political direction.

Upon welcoming him into the party, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju remarked, "There is no need for a separate introduction for the legendary Leander Paes. Throughout India, everyone knows who Leander Paes is. Nonetheless, today marks a historic moment with Leander Paes joining the BJP family. Inspired by the efforts of Prime Minister Modi towards sports and athletes over the last 12 years, Leander Paes has become a member of our party…"

Known as one of India's most iconic tennis players with numerous Grand Slam titles, Paes had previously ventured into politics by joining the All India Trinamool Congress in 2021. He campaigned for the party during the 2022 Goa Assembly elections, although he did not run for any office.

His transition occurs at a significant moment as political activities ramp up in West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections. The contest is anticipated to mainly involve the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the BJP, which is looking to extend its influence in the state.

The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with vote counting set for May 4. All 294 constituencies will participate in what is expected to be a closely monitored political showdown.