Dhankhar's sudden resignation foxes BJP and Opposition

India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned abruptly on Monday evening, citing health reasons, a move that has sparked widespread political speculation and raised questions about the timing of his exit on the first day of the Parliament's Monsoon Session.

The resignation, effective immediately, was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, according to a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Dhankhar, 74, who also served as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, India's upper house, submitted his resignation letter to President Murmu, invoking Article 67(a) of the Constitution. "To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately," Dhankhar wrote, expressing gratitude to Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and members of Parliament for their support during his tenure since August 2022.

The sudden resignation has caught the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) off guard, with no immediate successor named. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce a timeline for electing a new vice president soon, as the Constitution mandates filling the vacancy "as soon as possible."

Opposition leaders have questioned the stated health reasons, pointing to possible political undercurrents. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the resignation as "shocking" and "inexplicable," noting he had spoken with Dhankhar hours before the announcement and saw no indication of his intent to resign. Ramesh highlighted the absence of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Kiren Rijiju from a Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting chaired by Dhankhar on Monday afternoon, suggesting "something very serious" occurred between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. that day.

"There is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye," Ramesh said on X.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey echoed these sentiments, questioning why the resignation was submitted on the first day of the parliamentary session without prior consultation. "If health was the concern, the resignation could have been submitted a few days before the session or even after," Dubey said.

Did V-P blindside govt?

Speculation has also been fuelled by Dhankhar's handling of an opposition-sponsored motion to remove Allahabad High Court Judge Yashwant Varma, which he announced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Sources cited by the media said the move "embarrassed" the BJP, as the government was reportedly blindsided and had planned its own strategy in the Lok Sabha. Some political analysts suggest tensions over this issue may have contributed to Dhankhar's decision.

However, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla urged against speculation, stating, "Dhankhar has clearly cited health reasons, and we should respect that." The Congress, which has been openly unhappy to the extent of bringing an impeachment motion against Dhankar along with other opposition parties, has changed its tune and is now praising him. This is being seen as a move to embarrass the government as well as the BJP, though several commentators have pointed this out as the Congress’ ‘hypocrisy’.

Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, wished Dhankhar good health and acknowledged his contributions to the nation. Dhankhar, a former governor of West Bengal known for his frequent clashes with the state's Trinamool Congress government, is the third vice president in India's history to resign before completing his term, following V.V. Giri in 1969 and R. Venkataraman in 1987, both of whom stepped down to contest presidential elections. With the vice-presidential post now vacant, political parties are expected to begin consultations to nominate candidates. The BJP, with a majority in the electoral college, is likely to consider governors, senior leaders, or Union ministers for the role, with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh among those speculated as a potential contender. The resignation has added to the charged atmosphere of the Monsoon Session, already marked by disruptions over issues like the Pahalgam terror attack and an Air India crash. Both houses of Parliament were adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday amid opposition protests.