Leander Paes, Actor Nafisa Ali Join Trinamool Eyeing Goa Polls 2022

New Delhi:  Tennis veteran Leander Paes joined the Trinamool Congress today, the third celebrity – after actress Nafisa Ali and Mrinalini Deshprabhu – to join the party in a day as it looks to gain ground in the coastal state ahead of the assembly elections in 2022. Leander Paes was welcomed into the party by West Bengal Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee.

“Now I have retired from tennis. I want to serve the people through the vehicle of politics…..to make a difference to the country. Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is a true champion,” Mr Paes, 48, said.

We are extremely delighted to share that Shri @Leander joined us today in the presence of our Hon’ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial!

Together, we shall ensure that every single person in this nation sees the Dawn of Democracy that we have been waiting for since 2014!

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) October 29, 2021

Earlier Bollywood actress Nafisa Ali and Mrinalini Deshprabhu joined the Trinamool Congress in presence of Ms Banerjee.

The Trinamool Congress, which is trying to project itself as a strong contender against the BJP in the state, has planned a number of engagements for Ms Banerjee in Goa.

“During her visit, (Ms) Banerjee will meet intellectuals, thinkers, professionals and others,” a party official said.

Last week, Ms Banerjee had urged political parties, organisations and individuals to join her party in defeating the Goa’s ruling party BJP and its “divisive agenda”.

Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members out of which BJP currently has 17 legislators and enjoys the support of legislators from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three independents. GFP and MGP each have three MLAs.

Congress, on the other hand, has 15 MLAs in the house.