Days after he said he would retire in August 2027 subject to divine intervention, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, resigned from office on Monday.AdvertisementThe abrupt resignation, tendered to President Droupadi Murmu on health grounds, sent political circles into overdrive with speculation over what may have transpired between July 10 — when the 14th VP, speaking at JNU, said he would retire in 2027 — and today, when he suddenly stepped down citing health issues.He is the third sitting Vice-President in Indian history to resign before completing his term, which was to end on August 10, 2027.Previously, VV Giri stepped down from the vice presidency on July 20, 1969, to contest the presidential election following President Zakir Husain’s demise. He then served as acting President and was later elected to the top post. R Venkataraman resigned as Vice-President in July 1987 after being elected President. He had served as Vice-President from August 1984 to July 1987 and went on to hold the presidency until July 1992.Dhankhar, addressing a conference at Jawaharlal Nehru University on July 10, had said, “I will retire in August 2027 subject to divine intervention.” A senior lawyer, Dhankhar had earlier served as Governor of West Bengal.In his resignation letter to the President, Dhankhar wrote, “To prioritise healthcare 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.” He expressed gratitude to President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while hailing India’s rise as a global power.As per the Constitution, a Vice-President may resign from office by writing under his hand addressed to the President.Since the Vice-President is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, his duties will now be performed by Deputy Chairman Harivansh.The Vice-President’s post must be filled through an election as soon as possible. Sources at the Vice-President’s House said Dhankhar’s resignation followed a series of health issues he had faced since undergoing angioplasty at AIIMS, New Delhi, in March. During a recent official visit to Nainital, he reportedly fainted. Lately, he had been delivering speeches while seated and continued to face low blood pressure. “He was finding the Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman’s role very taxing,” the sources said.In political circles, however, speculation was rife that Dhankhar might have stepped down as part of the BJP’s impending organisational revamp, which could involve the election of a new national president, a structural overhaul and a potential Cabinet reshuffle.Some linked his resignation to possible permutations within the BJP that might include appointing a senior leader to the Vice-President’s post.Dhankhar had recently made public remarks that might not have gone down well with the government. He had questioned the absence of an FIR by the Delhi Police in the Justice Yashwant Varma case and asked why, despite the presence of burnt currency notes at the judge’s residence — evidence of a possible crime — no case was registered.Earlier, he had criticised the Supreme Court for acting like a “super Parliament” and questioned its ruling setting a three-month deadline for the President to clear Bills sent by Governors.Last year, Dhankhar had also ticked off the government, asking why it was not talking to the protesting farmers.
Vice-President Dhankhar resigns – The Tribune
