A former Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, joined the BJP on March 19, becoming part of a select group of ex-diplomats transitioning to politics during the Narendra Modi administration.
The move, which comes just a month ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, aligns him with fellow former diplomats turned Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and S Jaishankar.
Who is Taranjit Singh Sandhu?
A 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and grandson of former Congress leader Teja Singh Samundri, Sandhu retired on February 1. His father, Bishan Singh Samundri, was a renowned educationist and the founding vice-chancellor of the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
After retiring from foreign service, Sandhu was often seen interacting with people, triggering speculation about his likely entry into politics weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Sandhu is the first member of his well-known family to embark on a political journey since his grandfather, whom the British imprisoned for involvement in the Gurdwara Reform Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement.
Being part of a diplomatic power couple — his wife Reenat Sandhu is India's ambassador to The Netherlands — adds another dimension to his political journey. Reenat was earlier India's envoy to Italy.
Sandhu officially joined the party in the presence of BJP general secretaries Tarun Chugh and Vinod Tawde, with both of them emphasising his notable family background.
Diplomatic Career
Born on January 23, 1963, Sandhu's diplomatic career includes pivotal roles in shaping India-US relations, particularly during sensitive times such as the aftermath of the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and the 1999 Kargil war. He is renowned for his extensive network within the US political spectrum, bridging ties across party lines.
Sandhu's background, he comes from Rai Burj Ka village in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, and his family's commitment to Amritsar, further solidify his connection to the region.
His is expected to be the party's candidate from the prestigious Amritsar constituency following the footsteps of notable figures like Puri, Arun Jaitley, and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Puri and Jaitley though were unsuccessful in their bid to represent Amritsar in the Lok Sabha.
Foray into politics
On joining the BJP, Sandhu underscored the need to strengthen India-US relationship and emphasised the party's dedication to development across various sectors, including the semiconductor industry.
Sandhu expressed his readiness for the Lok Sabha elections but left the decision on his candidature to the BJP leadership. Sandhu also had a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.
The BJP is focused on reclaiming the Amritsar seat, which it hasn't won since Navjot Singh Sidhu's victory in 2009.
The party sees Sandhu, hailing from Amritsar and belonging to a respected Jat Sikh family, as its strongest contender for regaining the constituency. Sandhu has been engaging with various voter demographics across the constituency for months, aiming to establish connections and garner support.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will take be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4. Punjab will vote for all its 13 seats in a single phase on June 1. The state is set to witness a multi-cornered fight between AAP, Congress, SAD, and BJP.
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