New Delhi:

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, former India’s envoy to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who hails from Amritsar in Punjab, was joined by BJP national secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Tarun Chugh Tarun Chug joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Speaking at the joining ceremony, Mr. Sandhu said that Prime Minister Modi is a development-oriented leader and this development should be extended to his hometown Amritsar.

“I have worked closely with Prime Minister Modi’s leadership over the past decade, especially in relations with the United States and Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Modi has a development focus. Development is much needed today and this development should also reach Afghanistan. Mritsar. So I thank the party president, the prime minister, the home minister for encouraging me to embark on a new path of serving the country,” he said.

Speaking to ANI, Mr. Sandhu said Amritsar should not miss the opportunities the country is getting and his nomination of the Lok Sabha candidate will be decided by the party alone.

“The India-US relationship has transformed over the past 4 years, from a relationship to a partnership. India has received investment in many areas, creating opportunities for young people. I am worried that Amritsar should not miss the opportunities that the country is getting…” …The party will decide whether I run or not. My hometown Amritsar has a lot of potential and I am very sentimental about it,” he said.

On February 1, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s special envoy to the United States, was dismissed from his post.

Mr. Sandhu assumed office as India’s Ambassador to the United States in February 2020. Mr Sandhu’s most urgent task after assuming office was then-President Donald Trump’s visit to India and then maintaining the momentum in the bilateral relationship.

He is one of the most experienced Indian diplomats on US affairs, having twice served in the Indian Mission in Washington, DC.

From July 2013 to January 2017, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Washington.

Previously, he served as First Secretary (Political) at the Embassy of India in Washington, DC, where he was responsible for liaison with the US Congress from 1997 to 2000. He also served in the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York from July 2005 to February 2009.

He comes to Washington from Sri Lanka, where he served as High Commissioner from January 2017 to January 2020. Mr. Sandhu served as Consul General of India in Frankfurt from September 2011 to July 2013.

Apart from this, he has held various positions in the Ministry of External Affairs: as Joint Secretary (United Nations) from March 2009 to August 2011; and later as Joint Secretary (Administration), heading the Human Resources Department.

Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress are yet to nominate candidates for 13 seats in Punjab, while the AAP has nominated eight candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, including five ministers from the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann-led cabinet.

AAP fielded Gurmeet Singh Meite Khair from Sangrur, Sushil Kumar Rinku from Jalandhar, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal Amli but.

The 2024 Indian Punjab general election will be held on June 1, 2024, to elect 13 members of the 18th Lok Sabha.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 2 seats with 9.7% of the vote, the Congress won 8 seats with 40.6% of the vote, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Action Party Win 1 seat each.

Elections for the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha will be held from April 19 to June 1, with the counting date scheduled for June 4.

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