Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on late Monday resigned from his post, citing health issues and the need to adhere to medical advice. The 74-year-old tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. Dhankhar assumed office as Vice President in 2022 and was set to serve a five-year term ending in 2027. As Vice President, he also served as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, where his assertive presence and frequent run-ins with opposition parties often drew national attention. He may not attend the remaining Monsoon Session of the Parliament that began today (July 21).
In his resignation letter, Dhankhar thanked the President, Prime Minister and members of Parliament for their support, calling his tenure a “true honor”.
Known for his outspoken nature and often combative style, Dhankhar had made headlines for his vocal stance on the separation of powers between the judiciary and the legislature. Just this month, he remarked at an event that he would retire at the “right time”, leaving it to “divine interventions”.
What did Dhankhar say on his last day in Rajya Sabha?
Dhankhar resignation announcement came just hours after he presided over the first House gathering of Monsoon session. “A thriving democracy cannot sustain constant acrimony. Political tension must be reduced, as confrontation is not the essence of politics,” he said in his opening remarks earlier in the day at Rajya Sabha.
He appealed to both the ruling and opposition benches to uphold mutual respect and avoid personal attacks. “While political parties may pursue the same goals through different approaches, no one in India opposes the nation’s interests…Dialogue and discussion, not conflict, are the way forward,” Dhankhar said at the Upper House.
There was no public indication during the day of his impending resignation. In fact, Dhankhar had actively participated in the House proceedings, announcing that he had received a notice of motion signed by over 50 Members of Parliament seeking the formation of an inquiry committee for the removal of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
Only VP against whom Oppn brought notice of removal
Dhankhar is the third Vice President of India after VV Giri and R Venkataraman to resign during tenure. Giri and Venkataraman had resigned from the post of Vice President to contest the presidential election.
Dhankhar will also go down in history as the only vice president against whom the opposition brought a notice of removal for “partisan” conduct as the chairman of the Upper House.
Unmindful of the notice, which was rejected by Deputy Chair Harivansh, Dhankhar had dubbed it as a “rusted” vegetable-cutting knife which was used for a bypass surgery.
Dhankhar, who had been associated with the Janata Dal and the Congress, joined the BJP only in 2008 after a hiatus of nearly a decade.
(With inputs from agencies)