'Delhi my karmabhoomi': Former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu appointed Lieutenant Governor

Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sandhu in a ceremony held at Lok Niwas. (Credit: PTI)

• Taranjit Singh Sandhu becomes Delhi's 23rd Lieutenant Governor
• Sandhu's appointment part of a broader gubernatorial reshuffle
• Sandhu pledges to focus on Delhi's development and challenges

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Former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu was sworn in as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in a ceremony held at Lok Niwas on Wednesday.

Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sandhu in a ceremony attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other dignitaries.

VIDEO | Delhi: Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) takes oath as Delhi LG in presence of CM Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) at Lok Niwas.#DelhiLG (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/yRp1eaJtlD

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 11, 2026

His predecessor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. Sandhu's appointment was announced by President Droupadi Murmu as part of a broader reshuffle of gubernatorial positions across several states and Union territories.

Addressing a press conference after his appointment, Sandhu said," Delhi has been my 'karma bhoomi'...It is our duty to work towards Delhi's development...We will focus on converting challenges into opportunities...Everyone together, irrespective of the party, must work together to find solutions to the various problems."

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, "I welcome the Lieutenant Governor. You have come here to take Delhi forward at an even faster pace. We have full confidence that your presence will further accelerate Delhi's progress. Solutions to Delhi's problems will be found more effectively. Under your guidance, the Delhi government will work in accordance with the directions."

A 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Sandhu was one of the most experienced Indian diplomats on US affairs with a career spanning more than three decades. He served in the Indian Mission in Washington, D.C., multiple times.

He was India's ambassador to the US from February 2020 to January 2024. The 63-year-old former diplomat had also been at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations from July 2005 to February 2009. Sandhu has also served as India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

After retiring from the diplomatic service, Sandhu contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2024 on the BJP ticket from the Amritsar constituency in Punjab but lost to Gurjeet Singh Aujla of the Congress.