Former Indian tennis legend Leander Paes is moving around the streets of Goa understanding people’s woes ahead of state elections in February-March next year as he begins a new phase of life as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) politician.
His day starts early with meetings to decide the course of the day, followed by day long campaigning with partner Kim Sharma .
“It’s been incredible. The reception that I’m so blessed to receive was one of being a son of the soil when we went into Velim, Tolleacanto, Assolna (the village where Paes father Vece Paes hails from) or when we came here to Calangute or Candolim. They all start first talking about how wonderful it was to have a son of the soil coming back to make a difference,” Paes says, speaking as he’s driven from one house to the next.
On some days, he’s busy campaigning door to door, meeting and greeting village leaders and influential residents apart from posing for pictures and playing football with local boys.
Over the last few days, Paes has met former Olympian hockey player Selma D’Silva, Tallulah Bragança,
