Congress Leader Anand Sharma Resigns As Foreign Affairs Dept Chairman

Last Updated:August 11, 2025, 07:43 IST

This comes days after he visited several countries as part of an all-party delegation post Operation Sindoor. He was among the members of the delegation headed by Supriya Sule.

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma (Credits: X)

Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma resigned from the post of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Sunday. However, he is still a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

“As I have conveyed earlier, both to CP and Chairperson CPP, in my considered view, the committee needs to be reconstituted to bring in younger leaders of potential and promise. That will ensure continuity in its functioning," Sharma said in his resignation letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

“Expressing my gratitude to the party leadership for having entrusted me with this responsibility, I am submitting my resignation as Chairman of the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to facilitate its reconstitution," he added.

This comes days after he visited several countries as part of an all-party delegation post Operation Sindoor. Anand Sharma was among the members of a delegation headed by NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule.

Other members of the group included Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Singh Thakur, and V Muraleedharan from the BJP; Vikramjit Singh Sahney from the AAP; Manish Tewari from the Congress; Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu from the TDP; and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin.

Congress MP Manish Tewari reacted to his resignation and admired him for his exceptional understanding of foreign affairs.

“Had the pleasure and honour of working with @AnandSharmaINC for over four decades. His understanding of foreign affairs is astute. Especially on Africa, the depth of his knowledge is incisive," he wrote on X.

“As we were together on the same politico-strategic delegation together from late May to early June 2025, we greatly benefited by his insights. He has spent close to five and a half decades of his life in the service of @INCIndia. Wishing him a very healthy and fulfilling life," he added.

Notably, Congress leaders Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, and Manish Tewari—who were part of the Operation Sindoor Outreach delegations sent by India to partner nations to present its position on cross-border terrorism—were absent from the list of Congress speakers during the post-Operation Sindoor debate in Parliament.

Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...Read More

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her...

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August 11, 2025, 07:43 IST

News india Congress Leader Anand Sharma Resigns As Foreign Affairs Dept Chairman

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