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Former Ambassador to US joins BJP
Sandhu, renowned for his extensive experience in diplomatic circles, served as India's Ambassador to the United States from February 2020 to January 2024
Former US Ambassador Taranjit Sandhu joins BJP, eyes Amritsar seat / X/ @SandhuTaranjitS
Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Indian Ambassador to the United States, made headlines by officially joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. Reports suggest that Sandhu is being considered as a potential candidate for the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming elections. This move comes amidst the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominating Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal as their candidate for the same constituency.
The formal induction ceremony took place at the BJP headquarters located in New Delhi's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. Sandhu's entry into the saffron party was witnessed by prominent figures including party general secretaries Vinod Tawde and Tarun Chugh.
Notably, the Amritsar constituency witnessed a fierce electoral battle in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, where Congress' Gurjeet Singh Aujl emerged victorious over Hardeep Singh Puri of the BJP by a substantial margin of nearly 1 lakh votes.
Sandhu, renowned for his extensive experience in diplomatic circles, served as India's Ambassador to the United States from February 2020 to January 2024. Prior to this, he held the prestigious position of High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka from January 2017 to January 2020. His diplomatic career also includes notable stints at the High Commission of India in Colombo and as Consul General of India in Frankfurt.
Born on Jan. 23, 1963, Sandhu received his education from The Lawrence School, Sanawar, and pursued his undergraduate studies with honors in History from St. Stephens' College, Delhi. He furthered his academic pursuits by obtaining a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Sandhu's diplomatic journey commenced in the former Soviet Union (Russia), where he served as Third Secretary (Political) / Second Secretary (Commercial) at the Indian Mission from 1990 to 1992.
The BJP's strategic move to nominate Sandhu, a seasoned diplomat, underscores the party's intent to strengthen its presence in Punjab, a state where it has been striving to expand its influence. With Punjab boasting 11 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP secured victory in two constituencies during the 2019 general elections. Sandhu's entry into the political arena adds an interesting dimension to the electoral landscape of the region.
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