Vice‑President Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down on 21 July, citing health concerns and immediate medical advice under Article 67 of the Constitution. The resignation, tendered to President Droupadi Murmu, came as the Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced and caught many by surprise. Dhankhar’s departure leaves a sudden vacancy in the second‑highest constitutional office and a trail of questions about the timing and motivations behind his decision.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, present with Dhankhar until the afternoon and having spoken to him by phone at 19:30, described the move as “shocking and inexplicable” and suggested there was “far more to this totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye”. He noted Dhankhar had scheduled a Business Advisory Committee meeting for 13:00 the next day and was expected to unveil significant judiciary‑related announcements. Ramesh implored Prime Minister Modi to persuade the vice‑president to reconsider, citing national and agricultural interests.
Health concerns have been documented. Earlier this year, Dhankhar was admitted to AIIMS in March after experiencing cardiac problems and underwent angioplasty; he spent four days in critical care. In June, he fainted during a public event at Kumaon University in Uttarakhand. In his resignation letter, he avoided specifics, stating only that he needed to “prioritise health care and abide by medical advice”. He expressed deep gratitude to President Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, the Council of Ministers and Members of Parliament for their support during his tenure.
Responses across the political spectrum have been mixed. Opposition voices have rallied in support or raised concerns. Kapil Sibal, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP, lauded Dhankhar’s impartiality and past cooperation between government and opposition, urging respect for his health-driven choice and extending good wishes. Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi doubted claims of balance, recalling a no‑confidence motion filed by the opposition during his tenure.
The ruling side has so far maintained silence. No statement has emerged from the President’s office or central government, and no one has stepped forward to confirm or deny underlying political motivations. That absence of comment has deepened speculation that Dhankhar’s resignation might be the result of behind‑the‑scenes pressures. The timing—on the first day of the Monsoon Session—just as key parliamentary business was to be conducted, has only intensified such doubts.
Dhankhar’s resignation triggers a constitutional pathway: Article 67 provides for immediate resignation accepted by the President, and the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman, Harivansh Narayan Singh, steps in as interim chairman of the Upper House. The Electoral College—comprising MPs from both houses—will elect a new vice‑president via proportional representation and single transferable vote, though no timeline has yet been announced.
Dhankhar, 74, ascended to the vice‑presidency in August 2022 after a distinguished career as a lawyer, Lok Sabha and state assembly member, and Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. His term was marked by vigorous parliamentary conduct; he notably faced the first impeachment motion against a vice‑president in independent India, which was later dismissed by Harivansh. During his chairmanship, he expanded representation by appointing 17 women to the Rajya Sabha panel of vice‑chairpersons amid debates on the women’s reservation bill.
A video resurfaced where Dhankhar said he would retire in 2027 “subject to divine intervention”—a statement now casting a shadow of irony over his abrupt exit three years early. Political analysts suggest this adds to public curiosity over whether his resignation truly marks a health necessity or masks deeper political fault lines.
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