Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation as India’s vice president on July 21 took the nation by surprise. Citing health reasons, he stepped down nearly two years before his term was set to conclude. The announcement coincided with the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. On Monday, Dhankhar had presided over the Rajya Sabha, chaired the Business Advisory Committee, and interacted cordially with leaders from various political parties. Yet, within hours, he submitted his resignation letter to President Murmu. Veteran MPs have expressed doubts that sudden ill health can explain a departure that came after such an active day. On the other hand, it may be noted that so far there is no record of presidents, vice presidents, prime ministers, ministers etc resigning suddenly on health grounds. Ironically, the Congress party, which had been at the Dhankar’s receiving end, has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to persuade Dhankhar to reconsider his decision. Meanwhile, the President accepted the resignation swiftly, avoiding public discourse or parliamentary debate. The suddenness of Dhankar’s decision have sparked more questions than answers. Dhankar’s resignation on health grounds appear unconvincing as he showed no sign of during the entire busy schedule on Monday when he convened and conducted meetings with opposition leaders and cabinet ministers. BJP ministers did not attend Monday’s Business Advisory Committee and this came to symbolize the breakdown. The opposition seized on this episode, accusing the government of disrespecting constitutional norms and deliberately undermining the chair. Despite last-minute efforts by senior BJP officials, Dhankar stood by his resignation, indicating that he sensed something was up or that he felt it was time for him to go. Reports have pointed to irritation over breaches of protocol and uneasy relations with the Central government as possible factors. Furthermore, Dhankar has been among the most proactive vice presidents who literally became a self-appointed mouthpiece of the ruling BJP by directly attacking the opposition leaders within parliament and openly espoused the RSS ideology in parliament. The vice president’s role requires a delicate balancing act between fulfilling ceremonial duties and maintaining impartial oversight of the Rajya Sabha. However, it appears that all was not hunky dory between Dhankhar and the ruling coalition as it had been becoming increasingly strained. His outspoken comments on judicial accountability and the ongoing farmer protests had drawn sharp lines. Dhankhar publicly called on agricultural ministers to engage directly with protesting farmers, at a time when the government aimed to maintain a façade of unanimity. Last year, an unprecedented impeachment motion against him was introduced, which, although defeated, was a stark indication of the extent of political animosity. This time however, his willingness to admit an opposition notice seeking the removal of a Supreme Court judge without prior government consultation appeared to be the last straw. Latching on to the resignation, opposition leaders have described Dhankhar’s resignation as ‘Soviet style,’ implying coercion behind the scenes. The controversy raises the possibility that tensions between the government’s desire to dominate parliamentary proceedings and the vice president’s insistence on doing it his way. Dhankhar seems to have misjudged his indispensability to the ruling BJP by severely restricting opposition voices in Parliament. Post-Dhankar, the ruling party’s choice of his successor will reveal how the ruling coalition intends to manage parliamentary affairs going forward.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025