Congress Leader Anand Sharma Resigns as AICC Foreign Affairs Department Chairman
Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma has stepped down as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). However, he will continue as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).
In his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharma wrote:
“As I have conveyed earlier to both the CP and Chairperson CPP, I believe the committee should be reconstituted to bring in younger leaders with potential and promise. This will ensure continuity in its functioning. Expressing my gratitude to the party leadership for entrusting me with this responsibility, I am submitting my resignation as Chairman of the DFA to facilitate its reconstitution.”
Sharma’s resignation comes just days after he returned from visiting several countries as part of an all-party delegation following Operation Sindoor. The delegation was led by NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule and also included BJP MPs Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Singh Thakur, and V. Muraleedharan; AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney; Congress MP Manish Tewari; TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu; and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin.
Reacting to the news, Manish Tewari praised Sharma’s expertise in foreign affairs, writing on X:
“Had the pleasure and honour of working with @AnandSharmaINC for over four decades. His understanding of foreign affairs is astute—especially on Africa, where his knowledge is incisive. During our politico-strategic delegation from late May to early June 2025, we greatly benefited from his insights. He has dedicated over five and a half decades of his life to the service of @INCIndia. Wishing him a healthy and fulfilling life.”
Notably, Anand Sharma, along with Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari, had been part of India’s Operation Sindoor outreach delegations sent to partner nations to present India’s stance on cross-border terrorism. However, all three were absent from the list of Congress speakers during the post-Operation Sindoor debate in Parliament.
