Former diplomat and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency, Taranjit Singh Sandhu officially submitted his nomination papers on Friday, amidst a show of support from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Sandhu, accompanied by Jaishankar, engaged in a vibrant roadshow before formally filing his nomination papers. The Union Minister lauded Sandhu’s credentials, emphasizing his distinguished service to the nation and expressing confidence in his ability to represent Amritsar effectively.
“He will be a good Parliament member and is a very popular diplomat. He has served the country a lot. Now the time has come to serve Amritsar. He is held in high esteem in Delhi. You can’t choose a better candidate than Taranjit Sandhu to take forward the interests of Amritsar and Punjab,” Jaishankar remarked.
Responding to Sandhu’s call for the establishment of a consulate in Amritsar, Jaishankar indicated his willingness to address the matter later, underscoring his current focus on endorsing Sandhu’s candidacy.
Ahead of filing his nomination papers, Sandhu led a spirited roadshow in an open jeep, joined by a multitude of BJP supporters, with Jaishankar by his side.
Sandhu, a native of Amritsar, recently joined the BJP in March, following his retirement as the Indian envoy to the United States on February 1. During his tenure as the Indian Ambassador to the US, Sandhu played pivotal roles in fostering bilateral ties, including facilitating then-President Donald Trump’s visit to India.
With Punjab set to vote in a single phase on June 1 to elect 13 members to the 18th Lok Sabha, the political landscape is gaining momentum. In the previous general elections, the BJP secured two seats, while the Congress won eight and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and AAP each claimed one seat.
The ongoing Lok Sabha elections, spanning from April 19 to June 1, will witness the counting of votes on June 4, encompassing the electoral journey of 543 parliamentary constituencies.