<p>Tennis veteran Leander Paes and actor Nafisa Ali joined Trinamool Congress Party in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here on Friday.</p>.<p>Welcoming Paes (48) during a press conference, Banerjee recalled meeting Paes when the Olympic bronze medal winner was a teenager.</p>.<p>“I was the sports minister of the country when I (first) met him,” she said.</p>.<p>“I have got my younger brother and sweet and cute brother in the TMC,” she added.</p>.<p>Paes told reporters that having retired from tennis, he wants to serve the people through the vehicle of politics to make a difference to country. He said he had met Banerjee when he was 14 and she was the sports minister.</p>.<p>“She was very encouraging and supportive. It enabled me as a young boy to embark on this game. I have travelled the world for the last 30 years playing for the country. I have retired from tennis and would like to get the guidance from the powerful young lady (Banerjee),” he said.</p>.<p>Paes, who won the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished doubles players in the world, said he wants to make a difference in the lives of the people. “Didi is a lady of her words. She is a true champion,” he added.</p>.<p>Nafisa Ali, who won the Femina Miss India title in 1976 and was the second runner-up at the Miss International contest, had contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from South Kolkata against Banerjee.</p>.<p>Goa-based entrepreneur Mrinalini Deshprabhu also joined the party in the presence of TMC MP Derek O'Brien.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Tennis veteran Leander Paes and actor Nafisa Ali joined Trinamool Congress Party in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here on Friday.</p>.<p>Welcoming Paes (48) during a press conference, Banerjee recalled meeting Paes when the Olympic bronze medal winner was a teenager.</p>.<p>“I was the sports minister of the country when I (first) met him,” she said.</p>.<p>“I have got my younger brother and sweet and cute brother in the TMC,” she added.</p>.<p>Paes told reporters that having retired from tennis, he wants to serve the people through the vehicle of politics to make a difference to country. He said he had met Banerjee when he was 14 and she was the sports minister.</p>.<p>“She was very encouraging and supportive. It enabled me as a young boy to embark on this game. I have travelled the world for the last 30 years playing for the country. I have retired from tennis and would like to get the guidance from the powerful young lady (Banerjee),” he said.</p>.<p>Paes, who won the bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished doubles players in the world, said he wants to make a difference in the lives of the people. “Didi is a lady of her words. She is a true champion,” he added.</p>.<p>Nafisa Ali, who won the Femina Miss India title in 1976 and was the second runner-up at the Miss International contest, had contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from South Kolkata against Banerjee.</p>.<p>Goa-based entrepreneur Mrinalini Deshprabhu also joined the party in the presence of TMC MP Derek O'Brien.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>