In a surprising turn of events on Monday evening, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, tendered his resignation, citing pressing medical reasons. His immediate departure, effective under Article 67(a) of the Constitution, marks an unexpected end to a tenure that began in August 2022 and was slated to conclude in 2027. Dhankhar, who also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, submitted his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu on the very first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. This development followed a recent angioplasty procedure he underwent at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, suggesting a direct link between his health and his decision to step down.
Dhankhar’s time as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha was notably eventful, characterized by frequent clashes with the Opposition. These confrontations culminated in the first-ever motion to impeach a sitting Vice President in independent India, a move initiated by the Opposition. Although the motion was ultimately rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, it underscored the often-contentious nature of his leadership in the upper house. His resignation also places him among a select few Vice Presidents—V. V. Giri and R. Venkataraman being the others—who resigned before completing their term. However, unlike Giri and Venkataraman, who resigned to contest presidential elections, Dhankhar’s reason is explicitly health-related.
The timing of Dhankhar’s resignation is particularly intriguing, coming on the heels of a day of significant developments in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier that day, an Opposition-sponsored notice for a motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma was submitted to him, and he subsequently mentioned it in the House. This move reportedly came as a jolt to the ruling alliance, which had sponsored a similar notice in the Lok Sabha and sought Opposition support. Dhankhar was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) candidate for the Vice Presidential election in 2022, highlighting his political alignment and the potential ramifications of his departure for the ruling coalition.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resign due to medical reasons, In his resignation letter, Dhankhar expressed profound gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Council of Ministers, and all Members of Parliament for their support throughout his tenure. He specifically acknowledged the President’s “unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship” and the Prime Minister’s “invaluable” cooperation and support, emphasizing how much he learned from him. He also conveyed his deep appreciation for the “warmth, trust, and affection” received from all MPs, vowing to cherish these memories.
Dhankhar reflected on his experience as Vice President, expressing gratitude for the “invaluable experiences and insights” gained within India’s democracy. He spoke with pride about witnessing and participating in India’s “remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development” during this significant period, calling it a “true honour” to serve in such a transformative era. As he departs, Dhankhar conveyed his “pride in Bharat’s global rise and phenomenal achievements” and his “unwavering confidence in her brilliant future.”
Born on May 18, 1951, in Kithana village, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, Dhankhar often highlighted his humble origins as the son of a farmer who rose to the second-highest constitutional position in the country. His resignation marks the end of an impactful, albeit curtailed, period in India’s political landscape, leaving a void that will soon need to be filled. The focus now shifts to the process of electing a new Vice President and the potential shifts in the dynamics of the Rajya Sabha in the wake of his departure.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation has injected a new dynamic into India’s political landscape, particularly as the Monsoon session of Parliament has just commenced. While his stated reason is medical, the timing, coinciding with an Opposition-led motion against a High Court Justice, adds a layer of speculation regarding potential political undercurrents. His controversial tenure as Rajya Sabha Chairman, marked by frequent confrontations, suggests that his departure might offer a reset for the upper house.
As Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resign due to medical reasons, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh now presiding over the Rajya Sabha, the focus immediately shifts to the election of a new Vice President. The Constitution mandates that the vacancy be filled “as soon as possible,” and the Election Commission will soon announce the schedule. This unexpected vacancy will undoubtedly trigger intense political manoeuvring from both the ruling alliance and the Opposition, as they vie to place their candidate in this crucial constitutional office, which is also the ex-officio Chair of the Rajya Sabha. The outcome of this election will undoubtedly shape the legislative agenda and the tenor of parliamentary proceedings in the months to come.