Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Sudden Resignation Sparks Speculation of Political Rift Beyond Health Concerns

By Editor in Chief On Jul 23, 2025

The surprise resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has sent ripples through the political landscape, sparking widespread speculation that his exit may have more to do with political tensions than the health issues officially cited.

Despite his stated reason being medical, the absence of a farewell address, the cancellation of scheduled high-level meetings, and a cryptic response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi have all contributed to mounting curiosity and conjecture.

The 74-year-old Dhankhar tendered his resignation late on Monday evening, addressing a formal letter to President Droupadi Murmu, in which he cited the need to “prioritise health care and abide by medical advice” as the reason for stepping down. The resignation, made under Article 67(a) of the Constitution, takes effect immediately.

Dhankhar, a former Governor of West Bengal, still had over two years remaining in his tenure as Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. His sudden decision to exit from the high constitutional office has left many political observers and parliamentarians both shocked and puzzled.

Adding to the intrigue, President Murmu swiftly accepted his resignation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi issued a carefully worded post on X (formerly Twitter) that avoided any direct reference to Dhankhar’s resignation circumstances:

“Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health.”

While the message conveyed formal gratitude and best wishes, it lacked the emotional and ceremonial tone usually associated with such high-profile departures, fueling speculation further.

Diplomatic signals have also added to the mystery. Dhankhar’s noticeable absence from hosting duties during the recent visit of U.S. Vice President’s Chief of Staff Phil Vance raised eyebrows in diplomatic and political circles alike. Traditionally, the Vice President plays a ceremonial role during such visits, especially when it involves engagements of global significance.

Sources within the parliamentary secretariat revealed that Dhankhar was supposed to chair a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. and was expected to make key announcements relating to judicial matters.

His decision to resign just hours before such a crucial schedule led Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh to term the move “shocking and inexplicable.” In a post on social media, Ramesh even appealed to the Prime Minister to urge Dhankhar to reconsider his decision, stating that it was a “matter of national interest.”

Adding to the confusion, it was reported that the BAC had convened twice on Monday, first at 12:30 p.m. with top ministers like JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju in attendance. But by the 4:30 p.m. session, both ministers were conspicuously absent.

This has led to speculation of a sudden shift in the political winds—possibly a disagreement or internal political realignment within the ruling establishment that precipitated Dhankhar’s dramatic exit.

Dhankhar was also expected to address the newly elected committee of CREDAI Rajasthan in Jaipur on July 23, but that appearance has now been cancelled following his resignation.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, the development has ignited political flames with opposition leaders alleging that Dhankhar’s resignation is part of a broader BJP conspiracy to sideline Chief Minister Nitish Kumar before the upcoming state assembly elections.

These claims, however, were flatly denied by state minister Shravan Kumar, a close confidant of the veteran CM, who reaffirmed that Nitish Kumar remains the NDA’s face in the state and is “here to stay.”

With Dhankhar’s abrupt exit, the Vice President’s office now stands vacant, triggering a constitutional requirement to elect a new Vice President promptly. Under the Indian Constitution, a new election must be held soon to fill the void left in the Rajya Sabha’s leadership.

While official statements continue to portray the resignation as health-driven—particularly after Dhankhar underwent angioplasty at AIIMS, New Delhi, a few months ago—his recent public engagements did reflect signs of physical discomfort.

Yet, observers note that the timing, lack of customary protocol, and unanswered questions about internal political dynamics suggest there may be deeper, undisclosed causes behind this high-profile departure.

As the nation watches closely, the focus now shifts to who will be chosen to step into the country’s second-highest constitutional office, and whether the real story behind Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation will ever fully come to light.

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