In a sudden turn of events, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on Monday, citing health issues, shortly after presiding over the opening day of Parliament's monsoon session as Rajya Sabha Chairman. Just 11 days prior, he had publicly stated he would retire at the right time, subject to divine intervention.
A press invitation circulated by the Press Information Bureau, scheduling his travel to Jaipur for Wednesday, suggested the decision was made last-minute. Dhankhar’s resignation, with a little over two years remaining of his five-year term that began in August 2022, sent ripples through political circles. Senior Congress MP Jairam Ramesh described the move as both "shocking and inexplicable". Ramesh noted he had been with Dhankhar until around 5 PM and spoken to him at 7:30 PM, highlighting the Vice-President's schedule for the following day, including a Business Advisory Committee meeting and major announcements related to the judiciary. Ramesh suggested there was "far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye".
In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar stated: "To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice-President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution." Dhankhar, 74, recently underwent angioplasty at AIIMS Delhi, though he had remained active until Monday afternoon. There has been no official confirmation from Rashtrapati Bhavan regarding the acceptance of his resignation, nor any immediate reaction from the government or the BJP. The development necessitates a fresh election for the vice- presidential post, which is elected by an Electoral College of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members. Dhankhar expressed gratitude to the President, Prime Minister, council of ministers and all MPs for their "warmth, trust, and affection."
