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Dhankhar: EC likely to complete VP election in a month, MHA notifies resignation
Dholpur: Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addresses the cadets and staff at Rashtriya Military School, in Dholpur, Tuesday, Januar 16, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
The Election Commission on Wednesday said that the election to appoint a new Vice President after Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation will be held in a month. The Ministry of Home Affairs, meanwhile, has notified Dhankhar's resignation to the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect.
Dhankhar's resignation came as a shock among political circles, with the Opposition raising eyebrows over a possible intervention by the central government. His resignation, just a day after the Monsoon Session of the Parliament began, also relieved him from his Rajya Sabha chairman duties. Currently, the post is being handled by Vice Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.
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'The Election Commission of India has already started the preparations relating to the Vice-Presidential Elections, 2025. On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the Election Schedule to the office of the Vice-President of India will follow as soon as possible,' the poll body said in a statement.
On Wednesday, as the Question Hour began in the Rajya Sabha at 12 noon, Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, informed members of the house about the MHA's notification.
'The Ministry of Home Affairs, vide notification dated July 22, 2025, has conveyed the resignation of Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under Article 67(a) of the Constitution with immediate effect,' Tiwari said.
Meanwhile, conspiracy theories about Dhankhar's resignation have kept politicians on the edge, with many linking his sudden exit with a resolution moved by the Opposition related to the removal of Justice Yashwant Verma, accused of hoarding huge amounts of cash at his residence.
Before his surprise resignation, former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar made an 'unscheduled visit' to the Rashtrapati Bhavan late on Monday evening, official sources told PTI.
Dhankhar met President Murmu around 9 pm on Monday and handed over his resignation to her. Half an hour later, he made his resignation letter public on X, they said.
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'To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,' Dhankhar said in his letter.
With inputs from agencies
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