The Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar has dropped a bombshell on Monday night, abruptly announcing his official resignation from office, submitting his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu.
The resignation comes nearly three years into his term, which began in August 2022.
As per Article 67(b) of the Indian Constitution, the Vice President may resign by addressing a letter to the President. With this resignation now accepted, the office of the Vice President stands vacant.
The Vice President also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Until a new Vice President is elected, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, will preside over its sessions.
The Constitution mandates that a new Vice President must be elected within six months of the vacancy. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the schedule for the Vice Presidential election soon.
According to Article 66 of the Constitution, the Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament through a secret ballot using the single transferable vote system.
While the official resignation letter cited “healthcare reasons,” there are reports of internal tensions and speculation over the resignation.
According to the sources, a phone call from the Centre snowballed into a face-off, leaving the Vice President with little choice. The sources have also indicated that Jagdeep Dhankhar’s regisnation, ostensibly on health grounds, may have saved him from the disgrace of a government-backed no-confidence motion.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “it is as shocking as it is inexplicable. He has given health reason for doing so. Those should be respected but it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation.”
TMC MP Keerti Azad said, “His tenure as Vice President or Lt. Governor had been very controversial.”
Meanwhile, the government released a brief statement thanking Dhankhar for his service and maintaining that the party would support the constitutional process for a successor.
Jagdeep Dhankhar, a former Governor of West Bengal and a veteran lawyer and politician, was elected Vice President in August 2022. Known for his assertive style in the Rajya Sabha, his tenure often saw tension between the Chair and the Opposition benches.
