Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday, saying he was following medical advice and needed to focus on his health. The resignation came as a big surprise to many, as he still had two years left in his term. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Mr. Dhankhar said, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice-President of India, effective immediately.” The letter was shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. Mr. Dhankhar, 74, had a heart-related issue in March but had recovered and was attending official events regularly. In fact, he had taken part in Parliament earlier the same day and chaired a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee in the Rajya Sabha. He was also scheduled to visit Jaipur the next day for an event. His sudden resignation raised many questions and speculations. While the official reason is health-related, some political leaders believe there could be other reasons behind the move. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said the resignation was “shocking and unexpected.” He mentioned that he had spoken to Mr. Dhankhar just a few hours before the news broke, and the Vice-President gave no hint about stepping down. “He was supposed to make some big announcements related to the judiciary tomorrow,” Mr. Ramesh added. Sources as per The Hindu say Mr. Dhankhar was also expected to speak in the Rajya Sabha on impeachment motions against two High Court judges. These were sensitive matters that could have made headlines. According to senior leaders in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the government is now preparing a list of possible replacements. The next Vice-President will likely be from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and someone close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi is expected to return from his overseas visit by July 26. There have also been reports of tensions between Mr. Dhankhar and the government in recent months. His strong public comments about the judiciary did not go down well with some government leaders. In December 2024, the Opposition had even moved an impeachment motion against him, something that had never happened before for a Vice-President. Although the motion was dismissed, Mr. Dhankhar was reportedly upset that no top government minister publicly defended him. Mr. Dhankhar is known for speaking his mind. He began his career as a lawyer and entered politics in 1989, winning a Lok Sabha seat from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. He joined the BJP in 2003 and was made Governor of West Bengal in 2019, where he had regular disagreements with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In 2022, he was elected as the 14th Vice-President of India. As Vice-President, he often spoke on issues like judicial reform, farmers’ rights, and Parliament's powers. Some admired his courage, while others felt he crossed the line expected from someone in a high constitutional post. So far, the BJP has not issued a formal statement. PM Modi posted a brief message online, but it was far less warm than the praise he had given Dhankhar earlier. Meanwhile, several Opposition leaders have spoken about Mr. Dhankhar with respect and concern.
23 Jul 2025
Swarnim Sethi
