Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns Citing Health Reasons on First Day of Monsoon Session

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns, Cites Health Reasons on First Day of Monsoon Session.

In a surprise move, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday, citing health concerns. The 74-year-old made the announcement shortly after chairing the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

“To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,” Dhankhar wrote in a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu. The letter was released by the Vice President’s Office.

According to the Constitution, Article 67(a) allows the Vice President to resign by submitting a written notice to the President. Following Dhankhar’s departure, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will handle daily responsibilities until a new Vice President is elected.

Expressing gratitude, Dhankhar thanked President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their support. “I extend my deepest gratitude to the Hon’ble President for her unwavering support and our wonderful working relationship. I also thank the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers for their cooperation, from which I have learned much,” he wrote.

Dhankhar’s health has been a concern in recent months. In March, he was hospitalised at AIIMS after experiencing chest discomfort. Last month, he fainted after stepping down from the stage at a university event in Nainital.

Even on the day of his resignation, Dhankhar was active in his role. While presiding over the Rajya Sabha, he acknowledged receiving a motion signed by over 50 MPs seeking the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma. He instructed the Secretary-General to verify if a similar motion had been introduced in the Lok Sabha, and noted that one of the 55 signatures was duplicated, ordering an inquiry.

Known for his assertive stance on the separation of powers, Dhankhar had recently criticised the judiciary, claiming it was overstepping its role. He had objected to the Supreme Court’s directives setting deadlines for the President and Governors to sign state bills, saying, “We now have judges who legislate, perform executive functions, act as a super Parliament, yet face no accountability.”

Dhankhar becomes the seventh Vice President of India to leave office before completing a full five-year term. He had nearly two years left in office, having defeated opposition candidate Margaret Alva in 2022. Prior to his vice-presidency, Dhankhar served as Governor of West Bengal, a tenure marked by repeated clashes with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Ironically, the Trinamool Congress had abstained from the vice-presidential vote, alleging that Banerjee was not consulted before Alva’s nomination by the Opposition bloc.