Anand Sharma, a top leader in the party, resigned on Sunday from his position as chairman of the party’s steering committee for the state, dealing a severe blow to the Congress ahead of the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.
According to reports, Anand Sharma resigned from the position and stated in a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi that his self-respect is “non-negotiable.”
Later, he tweeted that he would remain a “lifelong congressman” and that he had resigned with “a heavy heart.”
Sharma’s resignation comes shortly after that of Ghulam Nabi Azad, another member of the G23 grouping, a section of senior party figures pushing for collective leadership in the party, who resigned as head of the Jammu and Kashmir campaign committee a few days ago.
Sharma had complained to the Congress leader about being disregarded throughout the dialogue process. He assured Gandhi that he will still advocate for the party candidates in the state, nevertheless.
On April 26, the former federal minister who served as the Congress’ second-in-command in the Rajya Sabha was named head of the steering committee for Himachal Pradesh.
Anand Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Azad are both well-known figures in the G23 group, which has criticised the actions of the party leadership. The group, which consists of well-known stalwarts like Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Manish Tewari, has been adamant about having honest elections at all levels, from the block to the CWC.
Sharma, one of Himachal Pradesh’s tallest leaders, allegedly wrote to the Congress president explaining how his lack of consultation or invitation to any party gatherings has wounded his self-respect.
In the next assembly elections, which are expected to take place later this year, the Congress is attempting to depose the BJP in Himachal Pradesh.
Since receiving a Rajya Sabha ticket from the then-prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 after initially running in assembly elections in 1982, Sharma has served in the lower house and held a number of important posts within the party.
