Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation on Monday evening for medical reasons. The senior official said he would be stepping down with immediate effect “to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice”. The surprise announcement comes mere weeks after he was admitted to AIIMS for “cardiac-related ailments”. The letter shared by Dhankhar did not elaborate on the cited health concerns.
The Vice President expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the the Council of Ministers in his resignation letter. He also thanked President Droupadi Murmu for her “unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship” maintained during his tenure.
“I am deeply thankful for the invaluable experiences and insights I have gained as Vice President in our great democracy. It has been a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India’s remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this significant period. Serving in this transformative era of our nation’s history has been a true honor,” he added.
‘Resignation effective immediately’
The resignation came on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament — hours after he adjourned the Rajya Sabha for the day.
Dhankhar was appointed as the Vice President of India in August 2022 after a stint as West Bengal Governor. He is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and presides over proceedings in the Upper House of Parliament. Sources told Indian Express that the resignation was likely to be implemented with immediate effect — with Dhankhar unlikely to attend the ongoing Monsoon Session from tomorrow. According to Article 92 of the Indian Constitution, the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha – or any other member designated by the House — will preside over the proceedings in his absence.
‘Hospitalised with ‘cardiac-related ailments’
According to an update shared by AIIMS Delhi, Dhankhar had been hospitalised in March following “cardiac-related ailments”. He was taken to the hospital around 2:00 am on March 9 experiencing uneasiness and chest pain. Dhankhar was admitted to the Critical Care Unit and closely monitored by a dedicated team of doctors. He was eventually discharged four days later after making a recovery. Top officials including Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Dhankhar during his brief stay in the hospital.
Dhankhar had sparked fresh concern weeks after the hospital visit — fainting during an event in Uttarakhand. The Vice President had reportedly passed out while attending the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Kumaon University in June 2025. He reportedly received medical attention after the incident and was advised to rest.
Public Disclosures: No official details about the specific nature of his illness have been released. While media reports widely acknowledge ongoing health issues, specifics have not been made public, respecting Dhankhar’s privacy.