Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who was previously the Indian Ambassador to the United States, has recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Former Indian envoy to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Sandhu joined the BJP in the presence of BJP National Secretary, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Tarun Chug. In the joining ceremony, Sandhu praised Prime Minister Modi for his development-focused leadership and expressed his desire for this development to reach his native place, Amritsar.

Sandhu has worked closely with PM Modi's leadership, especially in the relationship with the United States and Sri Lanka, over the last 10 years. He believes that development is essential in today's world and that Amritsar should not miss the opportunities that the country is getting. The party will decide if Sandhu will contest the elections or not.

Sandhu's most immediate task after being appointed as the Indian Ambassador to the United States in February 2020, was then-President Donald Trump's India visit, followed by keeping up the momentum in bilateral ties. He is one of the most experienced Indian diplomats in US affairs, having served in the Indian Mission in Washington, DC, twice earlier.

The BJP and Congress have not named candidates for 13 seats in Punjab, whereas the AAP has named 8 candidates for Lok Sabha elections, including 5 ministers from Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann-led cabinet.

The 2024 Indian general election in Punjab will be held on June 1, 2024, to elect 13 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. In the Lok Sabha election 2019, BJP won 2 seats with a 9.7 per cent vote share, while Congress won 8 seats with a 40.6 per cent, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and AAP won 1 seat each.

The elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4.