&w=3840&q=100)
Why did Jagdeep Dhankhar resign suddenly? The real reasons could be...
He was meant to serve until August 10, 2027. However, 74-year-old Jagdeep Dhankhar surprised one and all when the vice president of India announced his resignation at 9.25 pm on Monday, July 21 — two years before his term ended.
The now former vice president cited his health and medical advice as the reasons for his departure. However, not everyone, especially the opposition, is buying it. The Congress has said that there's more than meets the eye. In fact, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi told the Indian Express, 'The sudden resignation, and the cryptic tweets of PM Narendra Modi. It shows the unease in the relationship between the government and the Constitutional post of V-P. It seems like a game of one-upmanship.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Others in the opposition have also raised questions as to whether health was truly the reason for Dhankhar's exit.
So, what went wrong? Was politics behind the cause of Dhankhar's resignation? Did he fall out with the government — which he had been often accused of being biased to?
What did Dhankhar say about his resignation?
After presiding over the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Dhankhar made an unscheduled visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, throwing the house staff into a tizzy.
According to a Times of India report, Dhankhar arrived at 9 pm at the presidential residence and held a hastily-arranged meeting with President Droupadi Murmu. As required by law, he then tendered his resignation to her.
At 9.25 pm, he then broke the news to all, releasing his resignation letter to the public, which read: '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.'
He also wrote, 'As I leave this esteemed office, I am filled with pride in Bharat's global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future.'
The move came as a surprise to many within political circles. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh even wrote on X, 'The sudden resignation of the vice president and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable.
'No doubt Mr Dhankar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye. This is not the time for speculation though.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Differences with the government?
However, those who observe Indian politics very closely suggest that there were signs of a chasm between Dhankhar and the ruling government. The biggest proof of a rupture between the two was Dhankhar's decision on Monday in the Rajya Sabha.
On Monday, the first day of the Monsoon session, Dhankhar accepted a notice by the opposition to remove High Court Justice Yashwant Varma at whose house bundles of cash were allegedly found.
When told by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal that a similar motion was in the Lok Sabha, he directed the Secretary General to verify if a similar motion was moved in the Lower House. On Meghwal's confirmation that a notice had also been submitted in the Lok Sabha, Dhankhar asked the Secretary General to 'take necessary steps in this direction'.
Dhankhar, then said that according to the Judges (Inquiry) Act, when notices of a motion are submitted on the same day in both the Houses of Parliament, a committee to examine the charges levelled against the judge would be constituted jointly by the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
Many speculate that Dhankhar's decision to accept a motion to impeach Justice Varma didn't sit well with the BJP. File image/PTI
Many speculate that Dhankhar's decision didn't sit well with the BJP. As one source told NDTV that the move went against the government's plan to introduce the motion in the Lok Sabha. Moreover, the government was upset because they believed that Dhankhar's stand diluted the government's leadership on the matter.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Political observers also note that there were other signs that all wasn't well between Dhankhar and the government. For instance, BJP's leader in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda strong intervention during the debate on Operation Sindoor. 'Nothing will go on record, only what I say will go on record,' Nadda was heard saying while pointing towards Dhankhar.
The Congress states that this was an 'insult' of the Chairman, a claim dismissed by Nadda, who stated that his comments were directed at the opposition.
There's also the fact that JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju skipped Dhankhar's 4.30 pm meeting of the business advisory committee, upsetting the vice president. However, Nadda has clarified, 'The Vice President's office was intimated about our inability to attend the meeting.'
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on Dhankhar's exit seemed to be a give away. The PM wished the latter good health and thanked him for serving the country in various capacities. 'Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) Mallikarjun Kharge during a meeting at Parliament House, in New Delhi. File image/PTI
A closeness to AAP and Congress?
But beyond these reasons, there are some speculating that Dhankhar's meeting with Congress and AAP leaders could have also played a factor in his resignation.
On July 15, the Vice President's Office posted a 44-second video of Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, paying Dhankhar a visit at the V-P Enclave.
Moreover, a day before the start of the Monsoon Session, Dhankhar met Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal at his residence. It's important to note that Kejriwal is not an MP.
This has raised many questions as until recently Dhankhar was often criticised by the opposition for being a government stooge and even faced an impeachment notice, threatening to remove him as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for allegedly being partisan to them.
What awaits Dhankhar?
Now, that the President has accepted his resignation and it has been notified, Dhankhar will leave the VP Enclave and move into a government bungalow sanctioned to him. 'He (Dhankhar) will be offered a Type VIII bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi or another area,' an official said. The Type VIII bungalow is usually allotted to senior Union ministers or presidents of national parties.
With inputs from agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
3 minutes ago
- Hans India
Delhi: JP Nadda joins veterans in Defence Colony for Mann Ki Baat
BJP National President and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday led the party's Delhi unit leaders in tuning in to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio show in the company of veterans. Nadda listened to the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme at Defence Colony along with Vinod Tawde, Baijayant Jay Panda, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, Bansuri Swaraj, and retired army officers at an event coordinated by local MLA Neeraj Basoya. Additionally, the Delhi BJP made arrangements for the public to listen to the programme across 14 organisational districts. Sachdeva stated that PM Modi consistently strives to bring positive stories and initiatives from across the country to the public through Mann Ki Baat. As a result, the programme has now become a people's movement. He added that the way PM Modi highlighted how science in the 21st century is rapidly progressing with renewed energy is commendable. He mentioned the recent success of Indian students at the International Chemistry Olympiad and that students also won three golds, two silvers, and one bronze medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad held in Australia — a matter of great pride. Elsewhere, Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra and Delhi BJP's Organisational General Secretary Pawan Rana listened to the programme in Gharauli, East Delhi, with Mayur Vihar District President Vijendra Dhama and party workers. Earlier, the Delhi BJP President paid tribute to the three civil services aspirants who tragically drowned on July 27, 2024, due to sewer backflow in the basement of a coaching centre in Rajendra Nagar, as well as a student who died from electrocution due to a hanging wire in Patel Nagar. Sachdeva stated that due to criminal negligence and corruption by the Arvind Kejriwal government, no proper cleaning of drains and sewers was carried out in 2024, which led to the untimely deaths of these four talented students – Naveen Dalwin, Shreya Yadav, Tanya Soni, and Nilesh Rai – along with nearly 50 other citizens of various ages, who died due to drowning in waterlogged areas. The Bharatiya Janata Party had promised in its 2025 election manifesto that it would seriously address the issue of waterlogging, and we are satisfied that our government has managed to keep waterlogging to a minimum. Sachdeva further stated that the BJP-led Delhi government had pledged to prevent the recurrence of such accidents in Rajendra Nagar, Patel Nagar, Moti Nagar, Burari, Kirari, and other areas. 'We are proud that, unlike last year when over 50 lives were lost due to waterlogging in Delhi, no such incidents occurred this year due to the vigilance and preparedness of the government,' he said.
Hans India
3 minutes ago
- Hans India
Gangaikonda Cholapuram committee hails announcement of grand statues for Chola emperors
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at the ancient Shiva temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu and also announced that grand statues of Chola emperors Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola will be erected to honour their contributions to Indian history and culture. The Prime Minister's promise of constructing new and grand statues of Chola emperors has been welcomed and deeply appreciated by Gangaikonda Cholapuram Development Committee. Gomagan, the president of Gangaikonda Cholapuram development committee expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and said that this is a joyous moment for all of us. 'The visit of PM Modi to Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a joyous event for all of us. Since 2014, we have been celebrating the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival on behalf of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram development committee. In this context, we express our gratitude to Chief Minister Stalin for recognizing the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival as a state festival from the year 2022,' he said. He further said: "We thank PM Modi for his pledge to build a grand statue for Rajendra Chola, who is renowned for constructing a large navy amongst Indian kings and for leading Naval campaigns in the Southeast Asia." A special tribute was also paid to Rajendra Chola with the release of Rs 1,000 coin featuring his likeness, which brings pride and joy to all of us, Gangaikonda Cholapuram committee further said. Speaking during a special function at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Ariyalur district, PM Modi said that the Chola empire represented a golden era of India, marked by achievements in architecture, governance, diplomacy, trade, and cultural integration. 'The Cholas established strong political and trade ties with Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. It is a coincidence that I returned from the Maldives yesterday, and today I stand here in the land once ruled by these visionary kings,' he remarked.
Indian Express
3 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Vandita Mishra writes: As the Monsoon session of Parliament enters its second week
Why did Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar suddenly resign at the end of the first working day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament? The question is riveting. But unfortunately, l'affaire Dhankhar allows us a very limited range of wondering. As Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman, and as governor of West Bengal before that, Dhankhar spoke the lines scripted by the Narendra Modi government, almost as if they had been written out for him. He took on the elected chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, every day, firming up a template for the disabling politics practised by other BJP-appointed governors in Opposition-ruled states. He loudly confronted the Judiciary and the Opposition at the Centre, and weaponised the Rajya Sabha rule book to stifle debate, not encourage it. There seemed to be little or no daylight between the positions of Dhankhar and the Modi government. Up till now. So, now that a crack is showing, wide enough for Dhankhar to have made his unceremonious exit, or for him to have been eased out abruptly — the health reasons he cited for his resignation are not being taken seriously — there is an opening. Perhaps, hidden in plain sight, Dhankhar had overplayed the hand he had been dealt by the Modi government, and a government that maintains a tight control over MPs/ministers as well as constitutional authorities, could not let that be. All the fevered speculation in the last week about why the former V-P quit boils down to this. The story of the V-P's exit could have been more interesting. It could still be, arguably. It could have been that, to a third-term government with a messianic self-image that loses no opportunity to assert its absolute power absolutely, that gives no quarters to the dissenter and lays all opponents low, Dhankhar has done something that has not been done so far. He has spoken truth — or even better, the Constitution — to power, from within. It could have been that, having subdued the Opposition and its own MPs and Ministers, the government now came up against a pushback from the less bendable constitutional authority. That's a tantalising possibility. But there is a problem here, and it is this: Nothing in Dhankhar's very public record till now supports that particular theory. A level of publicness and transparency — missing from this episode so far — would also have been intrinsic to it. What we are left with, then, is an imagined drama of mincing moves on the chessboard of power and politics that ostensibly led to the V-P's exit. It is set against the broader canvas of a newly reconvened Parliament. Here, large issues, from the recent Operation Sindoor to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, which has raised genuine fears of disenfranchisement of large numbers of voters, have lined up, and the House has yet to properly let them in. As the Monsoon session enters its second week, then, on one side is the shadow-play of Dhankhar's exit, and on the other side an Opposition clutching at the smaller issue even as, on the larger issue, it does not seem to be getting a grip. Leaders of the Opposition have proposed to host a farewell dinner for Dhankhar, ostensibly to embarrass the government, twist the knife in. But on SIR, the Congress-led Opposition's legitimate criticisms of the Election Commission's impractical timelines in a poll-bound state are in danger of being clouded by its own disunity and Rahul Gandhi's loose and lurching pot shots at the EC. In Gujarat, on Saturday, Gandhi reportedly said the EC was like a 'cheating cricket umpire' and that Congress defeats in the 2017 and 2022 assembly polls in the state had to do with manipulated voter lists. For a leader speaking to party workers — Gandhi was addressing newly appointed Congress district and city unit presidents — there is room for some overblown rhetoric. But this sounded too much like Gandhi blaming the EC in a way that not only lets Congress off the hook, but which could also undermine the case he is making on the conduct of the SIR in Bihar against it. In Gujarat, Congress has failed to stanch the flow of Congressmen crossing over to the BJP camp, to an extent that voters distrust the Congress ability to hold its own in the state quite literally. As in many other states, it has failed to break BJP dominance through new ideas, or even through a new set of leaders. Its messaging has been inconsistent, lacking follow-up on the ground. And it has not been able to live down, or move ahead from, the shortcomings and mistakes of its own past governments. None of these issues can be fixed by turning the focus to voter lists. Of course, the ongoing SIR in Bihar is a different story, where the EC is fumbling visibly. But by setting up the fight so broadly, the party makes it more difficult to ask the sharp and pointed questions that need to be asked of the EC. Both the V-P exit drama about shadowy things, and the loose balls Congress is throwing at the EC, are part of the same story. For an Opposition still flailing to seize the initiative, the best hope is that, in its third term, the government's cracks will start showing. Till next week, Vandita
