VP Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns: A look back at India's Vice Presidents over the years
Jagdeep Dhankhar
on Monday. His unexpected move brings renewed focus to the legacy of the Vice Presidency—a role that balances political stature with constitutional duty.
As the ex-officio Chairman of the
Rajya Sabha
, the Vice President not only presides over the Upper House of Parliament but also plays a critical standby role to the President under Article 65 of the Indian Constitution.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Select a Course Category
Cybersecurity
Data Science
Design Thinking
PGDM
Leadership
Project Management
MBA
Finance
Public Policy
others
Data Analytics
Data Science
Technology
Artificial Intelligence
Degree
Healthcare
Operations Management
Digital Marketing
CXO
Others
healthcare
MCA
Management
Product Management
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
10 Months
MIT xPRO
CERT-MIT xPRO PGC in Cybersecurity
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
In cases of resignation, death, removal, or incapacity of the President, it is the Vice President who steps in to discharge those responsibilities.
Since the birth of the Republic, 13 individuals have served as Vice Presidents—many of whom later rose to the highest office in the land, or became enduring figures in Indian public life.
A historical line of stature and service
The story began with
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
, the scholar-statesman who became India's first Vice President in 1952. He served two terms before ascending to the Presidency in 1962. His legacy shaped the moral gravitas often associated with the role.
Live Events
He was succeeded by Dr. Zakir Hussain, another educationist who too would eventually become President. The early decades saw Vice Presidents who were often statesmen, legal scholars, or academics—adding intellectual heft to the position.
V. V. Giri, who followed, held the role briefly before becoming acting President and eventually winning the Presidency in his own right—a rare trajectory in Indian politics.
Names like B. D. Jatti, R. Venkataraman, Shankar Dayal Sharma, and K. R. Narayanan all passed through the Vice Presidency en route to greater national roles. In fact, Narayanan would later become India's first Dalit President.
Also read:
Who will become the next Vice President of India after Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation?
From moderators to political heavyweights
As Indian politics matured, the Vice Presidency increasingly attracted seasoned political leaders. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, a former Rajasthan chief minister, brought grassroots political experience to the role in the early 2000s.
Mohammad Hamid Ansari, with a distinguished diplomatic career, brought continuity and calm during his two-term stint from 2007 to 2017, one of the longest in the office's history.
M. Venkaiah Naidu, a stalwart of the BJP and known for his oratory, followed from 2017 to 2022. His tenure was marked by efforts to raise decorum in the Rajya Sabha and a focus on parliamentary productivity.
Jagdeep Dhankhar's short but eventful tenure
A former governor of West Bengal and senior advocate, Jagdeep Dhankhar assumed office in August 2022, bringing with him a mix of legal acumen and political grit.
His tenure witnessed assertive chairmanship in the Rajya Sabha and frequent headlines over procedural clashes with Opposition leaders.
His resignation, coming just three years into the role.
Now, the government is expected to initiate the process for electing the next Vice President soon.
Also read:
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns 'to prioritise health' as Monsoon Parliament session kicks off
A critical Constitutional office
The Vice Presidency may be viewed as largely ceremonial by some, but in moments of constitutional flux or parliamentary tension, the office emerges as a crucial balancing force.
With each occupant bringing their own legacy, India's Vice Presidents have contributed in ways both visible and quiet—upholding democratic values and institutional integrity.
As the nation awaits its 14th Vice President, the role's historical significance only deepens.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
16-hr debate on Op Sindoor next: At RS council meet, Cong rubs it in, wants Dhankhar farewell
Two days after raising questions on the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Vice-President and saying that there was something more to it than meets the eye, the Congress on Wednesday went a step ahead, proposing at a meeting of the Rajya Sabha's Business Advisory Council (BAC) that Dhankhar, who was also the ex-officio Chairman of the Upper House, be given a farewell. Sources said Jairam Ramesh, the Congress's chief whip in the Rajya Sabha, made this proposal at the BAC meeting, but the government was learnt to be not in its favour. The Upper House is set to give a farewell to seven retiring members Thursday, which include the PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss and the MDMK's Vaiko. It is learnt that during the BAC meeting Ramesh said there should be a 'farewell function' for Dhankhar as well. The Congress, sources said, wanted to make a political point by seeking a farewell for Dhankhar who, they believe, was forced to resign. 'The government must answer why he (Dhankhar) resigned, what are the reasons, what is the secret behind it. We feel that 'daal mein kuch kaala hai (there is something fishy)'. He seems healthy and always keeps a good vocabulary. But what happened? He used to defend the BJP and the RSS more than the BJP-RSS people themselves,' Congress president and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, told reporters today. Kharge said the country should be informed about the reason for Dhankhar's resignation and 'who was behind it'. While resigning two years before the end of his tenure, Dhankhar cited health concerns and 'medical advice.' Sources said none of the other Opposition members of the BAC backed the Congress's farewell demand for Dhankhar during Wednesday's meeting. While Dhankhar has been silent since his surprise announcement Monday night, the political row his exit has triggered has refused to die down, even as the Election Commission (EC) Wednesday set the ball rolling for the election of the next Vice-President. Asking the government to 'clarify the circumstances' surrounding Dhankhar's resignation, CPM MP John Brittas claimed that 'information from certain quarters suggests a senior minister sought his resignation on behalf of the government'. 'The contrast between the Prime Minister's enthusiastic endorsement of Dhankhar ji as 'Kisan Putra' during his (vice-presidential) candidacy and the cryptic, delayed statement following his resignation heightens intrigue,' said Brittas. 'If the government continues to evade questions, it would be fitting for Dhankhar ji to break his silence to uphold the dignity of the office,' he added. The BAC allocated 16 hours for a discussion on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha next week, starting on Tuesday. While the government was noncommittal on the Opposition's demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should reply to the debate, sources said he may 'choose the occasion to convey his government's robust response to the terror attack and its stand on a host of issues'.
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
PM Modi UK Visit Live Updates: PM Modi embarks on 4-day visit to UK, Maldives
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for the United Kingdom on Wednesday as part of a two-nation visit that will also take him to the Maldives later this week. His UK visit, scheduled for 23–24 July, aims to strengthen bilateral ties, with the signing of the long-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a key highlight. Under negotiation for three years, the FTA is expected to eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports to the UK and reduce tariffs on 90% of British goods. It is projected to double bilateral trade by 2030 from the current USD 60 billion and boost British exports such as whisky and cars to India. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the full spectrum of bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues. He is also expected to meet King Charles III. India and the UK will review cooperation in defence, climate, innovation, education, and technology, including collaboration in artificial intelligence and semiconductors. PM Modi is likely to raise concerns about Khalistani extremists in the UK. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, 'The issue of the presence of Khalistani extremists, bodies close to these people, is something that we have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK.'
The Hindu
9 minutes ago
- The Hindu
CM wants leader from Telangana to be made Vice President
Terming the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar as unfortunate, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has asked the BJP-led Central government to nominate a leader from Telangana to the coveted post. He favoured nomination of senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya for the post claiming that the BJP could undo part of injustice it had done to the backward classes communities by nominating him to the coveted post. 'Telugu is the most spoken language after Hindi and there should be representation from Telangana at the national level in the form of Vice President,' he said. He however clarified that a decision on the choice of Vice President would be taken by the All India Congress Committee and asserted that he would request the Congress leadership if need be in this regard. He alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government was scuttling opportunities of the OBCs as could be seen from the removal of Bandi Sanjay from the BJP State president post and Mr. Bandaru Dattareya who relinquished his post as Haryana Governor. 'Venkaiah Naidu, the Telugu face tipped to be the President, was sent back. The NDA government should do justice to backward classes by nominating Mr. Dattatreya to the Vice President's post,' he said. Replying to a query, he said the country was in danger as long as the BJP-led government was in power and it would continue to be so till the BJP was removed from power.
