Overview
- Paes said Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to work on youth and sports, including helping India pursue the 2036 Olympics and supporting plans for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Gujarat.
- At a Kolkata press event, he called the chaotic Lionel Messi show in December 2025 disrespectful and said a sportsperson in charge could have protected the player.
- He pushed back on questions about his roots, saying he is Bengali and Indian, and added that politics is new to him but he will carry himself with dignity.
- He pointed to gaps in Bengal’s facilities, noting the lack of indoor tennis courts and a Davis Cup-ready venue, which he said keeps children off courts during the heat and monsoon.
- He entered the BJP shortly before state elections and media reports speculate he could be fielded as a candidate, though the party has yet to confirm remaining names.