New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS): Senior BJP leader Dinesh Sharma has resigned from the Rajya Sabha and will soon assume the office of Lieutenant-Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
He submitted his papers on Friday to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, who accepted the resignation.
Earlier this month, Dinesh Sharma was appointed the Lieutenant-Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The appointment will take effect from the date he assumes charge of the office, according to a press communique issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Sharma expressed gratitude for his appointment as Lieutenant-Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and said he would fulfil his duty with complete devotion, honesty, and dedication.
In a post on X, Sharma said, “My heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble President, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Home Minister, and the party’s central leadership. For this important responsibility, I express my deepest gratitude from the heart to all esteemed elders, well-wishers, friends, and fellow citizens who have continuously inspired me with their good wishes and blessings.”
“This is not merely a position for me, but a profound responsibility toward the Constitution, the nation, and public service. I pledge to fulfil this duty with complete devotion, honesty, and dedication. May your affection, trust, and blessings always remain with me in this manner,” he added.
Sharma, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader who was serving as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, brings extensive administrative and academic experience to the role.
Born on January 12, 1964, in Lucknow, he served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 2017 to 2022 in the Yogi Adityanath government, handling portfolios related to higher education, technical education, science and technology, and information technology.
Before that, he was elected Mayor of Lucknow twice — first in 2006 and again in 2012 — winning the second term by a record margin.
A professor of commerce at the University of Lucknow since the early 1990s, Sharma has guided numerous research scholars and remains associated with academic work.
He began his public life through student organisations and rose through the ranks of the BJP’s youth wing before holding key organisational positions in the party.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a strategically important Union Territory in the Bay of Bengal, is administered by a Lieutenant Governor who serves as both the constitutional head and the head of the administration.
The post carries significant responsibility for governance, development, and coordination with the central government, particularly in areas of security, tourism, infrastructure and environmental conservation.
Admiral (Retd) Devendra Kumar Joshi has been serving as the Lieutenant Governor since October 2017. The fresh appointment marks a change in the leadership of the island territory. Dr Sharma is expected to take charge shortly.
