Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns Citing Health Reasons, Sparks Political Speculation

 In a development that has taken the political establishment by surprise, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation on Monday, citing health concerns. The move comes less than three years into his tenure as India’s 14th Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Dhankhar, 74, had been hospitalised at AIIMS, New Delhi, in March this year for cardiac-related issues, but had since resumed official duties. His sudden resignation, submitted during an unscheduled visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, has raised eyebrows across political circles. Sources suggest that the visit was made without a prior appointment and the decision was conveyed directly to the President.

While the Vice-President’s official communication attributes the decision to medical advice and a need to prioritise his well-being, the timing and context of the resignation point to underlying tensions. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Cabinet ministers were reportedly in closed-door discussions at Parliament, potentially deliberating the implications of Mr. Dhankhar’s departure.

Adding to the intrigue, just hours before his resignation, the Vice-President was present in the Rajya Sabha and announced receipt of a letter—endorsed by over 50 Opposition MPs—calling for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. The admission of the motion appeared to have caught the government off guard. Mr. Dhankhar directed the Secretary-General of the House to take appropriate action on the matter. Notably, his office had also released a statement regarding an official visit to Jaipur scheduled for July 23.

Observers have noted Mr. Dhankhar’s recent outreach to key Opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This growing proximity, coupled with his vocal support for reintroducing a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)-like mechanism—an initiative the current government has not pursued—has fueled speculation about political divergence.

A seasoned legal mind and political figure, Jagdeep Dhankhar was born in 1951 in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district, into a Jat farming family. A senior advocate of the Supreme Court, he was active in multiple High Courts and served as President of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association. He began his political journey with the Janata Dal in the 1990s, winning the Lok Sabha seat from Jhunjhunu and serving as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs under the Chandra Shekhar government. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2003.

In 2019, Dhankhar was appointed Governor of West Bengal, where his tenure was marked by frequent confrontations with the Mamata Banerjee-led state government. His elevation to the office of Vice-President in August 2022 brought with it a leadership style viewed by many as assertive, and at times, polarising.

In December 2024, the Opposition filed an unprecedented impeachment motion against the Vice-President, citing partisan conduct. Mr. Dhankhar publicly expressed hurt over the move. Tensions escalated further when MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicked him outside Parliament, drawing public attention to the deepening rift.

With Mr. Dhankhar stepping down on the opening day of the monsoon session—where crucial discussions on Operation Sindoor and the impeachment of Justice Varma are on the agenda—the political landscape is once again in flux.

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, will assume responsibilities for the remainder of the session. Meanwhile, the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for electing a new Vice-President shortly. As per constitutional provisions, the Vice-Presidential election must be completed within 60 days, with the electoral college comprising Members of Parliament from both Houses voting by proportional representation and secret ballot.

As the political machinery gears up for the upcoming vote, all eyes remain on whom the government will back as the next occupant of the Vice-President’s office.