Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi: Former Indian Army Vice Chief, Lt General Sarath Chand (retired), on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters here in the presence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
“I was commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles and spent a good portion of my official career in Uttarakhand. I am now leaving to meet Chief Minister TS Rawat and others, who were instrumental in me joining the BJP. I am not joining electoral politics and after my brief stay in Uttarakhand, I will return to Kochi, where I reside,” he said.
The former highly decorated officer retired in 2018 after putting in 39 years of service.
Chand, who hails from Kottarakkara, has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.