Beyond health: The real story behind Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation

“I will retire at the right time, August 2027, subject to divine intervention,” Jagdeep Dhankhar said during an event in Jawaharlal Nehru University on July 10. The intervention—divine or not—came within less than two weeks. Dhankhar’s sudden resignation stunned the political class.

There have been two firsts in Dhankhar’s eventful three-year tenure. He was the first Vice President (VP) against whom the opposition brought a no-trust motion. Secondly, he also became the first VP to resign midterm. He cited “health reasons.” The other two earlier resignations—V.V. Giri and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat—were made when the then VPs contested the presidential polls.

His resignation at the onset of the monsoon session may act as a challenge for the government, as the relations between the opposition and the ruling benches have been tense. While, there may pressure to pick up a new vice president, experts argue that there was no time frame to elect one. His duties as chairman of the Rajya Sabha may be held by the vice chairman Harivansh Rai Singh.

The Jat leader, Dhankhar, known for his outspoken ways, even during his days as West Bengal governor, had hogged the limelight during his tenure as vice president and chairman of the Rajya Sabha. While, it may take time to know the real reason behind 74-year-old Dhankhar's resignation, two years before his tenure ended, there have been some indications on what transpired in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the first day of the monsoon session.

In Lok Sabha, 145 MPs, including those from the opposition, submitted a motion for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Verma, in the burnt cash found at his residence. In Rajya Sabha, 63 MPs submitted the motion, however, it was signed only by the Opposition MPs.

“63 Rajya Sabha MPs belonging to various opposition parties submitted a notice of motion to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma under the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968. A similar motion for the removal of Justice Shekhar Yadav had been submitted to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha way back on December 13, 2024,” Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had said.

Dhankhar admitted the motion and asked the secretary general to initiate the proceedings. However, it was known that only opposition MPs were signatory to the motion, there was a flurry of activity in the ruling party camp.

The opposition party leaders had met Dhankhar at around 6pm, and three hours later, Dhankhar announced his resignation through his official handle.

Known for being a stickler for rules, the announcement of resignation led to murmurs of speculation.

Dhankhar was vocal in his opinion. During a function last year, he had even questioned the government’s policies on agriculture that had led to farmers' protest. Also present at scene was Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. A few days later, he did praise Chouhan as a favourite of farmers.

Dhankhar came to the BJP after his initiation into politics through the socialist route. It was on Chaudhary Devi Lal’s insistence that he came to politics. He has been a Supreme Court lawyer. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jhunjhunu seat in Rajasthan and was even a state MLA. He joined the BJP in 2003 and served as in-charge of the party’s legal cell. He was made Bengal governor in 2019, the post on which he served for three years, before being picked as VP candidate. His frequent run-ins with CM Mamata Banerjee always put the two in the headlines.

Now, in his retirement – to prioritise heath care – he was admitted to AIIMS owing to chest pain in March this year. He has been regularly attending functions and travelling since then. All eyes will be on him, if he articulates what led to his sudden resignation. Meanwhile, the Opposition may needle the government on the issue. The political drama may have just begun.

India