Leander Paes has been granted X category security by the Union Home Ministry shortly after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, a move that has drawn attention due to its timing amid upcoming elections.
Under this security arrangement, personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have been deployed to provide him protection. Officials indicated that the decision follows his increasing public visibility as he transitions into an active political role.
Paes, 52, recently joined the BJP in Delhi, describing the step as a commitment to serve the country. Before this, he had been associated with the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee and had campaigned for the party in earlier elections. His switch has been criticised by the TMC, which termed him an outsider in the state’s political landscape.
The BJP has already positioned Paes as a star campaigner for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, placing him alongside senior leaders such as Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, as well as prominent public figures. This reflects the party’s strategy of leveraging well-known personalities to expand its outreach, particularly among youth and urban voters.
Paes has emphasised his roots in West Bengal and highlighted sports as a key driver of national development. He expressed confidence in contributing to both state and national progress, aligning his political entry with broader themes of youth engagement and nation-building.
The grant of X category security so soon after his political induction has raised questions in political circles about its timing and implications, especially in the context of intensifying electoral activity in West Bengal.
