Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s surprise resignation coincided with a contentious deadlock at a Business Advisory Committee meeting earlier the same day. The absence of Leader of the House JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju during the critical session triggered speculation of deeper political friction within the upper chamber of Parliament.
At around 4.30 pm, the Business Advisory Committee reconvened under Dhankhar’s chairmanship, expecting government representation from Nadda and Rijiju. They had both attended the 12.30 pm convening but were notably absent from the afternoon meeting. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, a BAC member, later remarked that the meeting “waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar was not personally informed”. The omission prompted Dhankhar to postpone the session to 1 pm the following day.
In response, Nadda explained that both he and Rijiju were engaged in other parliamentary work and had communicated their unavailability in advance. He also clarified that his remark in the Upper House—“Only what I say will go on record”—was directed at Opposition MPs, not at the Chair.
Opposition members, however, have increasingly linked Dhankhar’s resignation to what they perceive as an institutional snub. Jairam Ramesh described the deliberate absence as evidence of “something very serious” unfolding between 1 pm and 4.30 pm. He contended that there were “far deeper reasons for his resignation” beyond the stated health concerns, and praised Dhankhar for his commitment to parliamentary norms and judicial accountability.
Dhankhar’s departure stunned parliamentary circles. According to reports, his own staff was caught off guard; an official itinerary released earlier in the day detailed future engagements including an event in Jaipur on July 23. That afternoon, he also informed the Rajya Sabha of an impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma and disclosed the presence of unclaimed cash in the chamber—occurrences that gave no hint of his impending resignation.
At approximately 9.25 pm, Dhankhar formally submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu via a letter invoking Article 67 of the Constitution. He wrote: “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice…”. The notice was shared through the official account of the Vice President’s office.
Parliamentarians across the political divide expressed shock. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh described the move as “shocking” and “inexplicable,” noting his own conversation with Dhankhar by phone as late as 7.30 pm. Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal acknowledged Dhankhar’s reasons for prioritising health but declined to speculate on other possible motivations, describing him as “one of the most proactive Chairmen”.
Questions now loom over whether there was consensus with government leadership before the resignation. Reports suggest no official acknowledgment of any prior flagging of health issues, and speculation remains that Dhankhar may have stepped down to forestall a looming no-confidence motion, linked to his acceptance of the judge impeachment notice earlier in the day.
Dhankhar, who had undergone angioplasty in March at AIIMS, continued to preside over parliamentary sessions since his recovery, maintaining a full schedule. Elected to the vice‑presidency in August 2022, his tenure was set to extend to August 2027. He is the third vice president to resign mid‑term, after VV Giri and R. Venkataraman.
His departure brings attention to a fraught first day of the Monsoon Session. Parliament’s agenda included contentious issues such as judicial accountability, a high‑profile impeachment notice, and the cash‑found episode in the Rajya Sabha.
The absence of Nadda and Rijiju at the BAC meeting—central to crafting the session’s schedule—remains at the heart of the dispute. The Opposition views the no‑show as a symbolic gesture challenging Dhankhar’s authority, while government officials maintain it was a scheduling conflict.
