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EYE ON INDIA                                                         AUGUST 01, 2025       |  The Indian Eye                    6


                Storm Over Resignation: Opposition



                  Targets Government After Jagdeep




         Dhankhar Steps Down as Vice President





           The sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has triggered a political firestorm,

                with opposition leaders questioning the official narrative and accusing the ruling BJP of

                                                  undermining constitutional processes


        OUR BUREAU                                                                                 NDA coalition.
                                                                                                      Supriya Shrinate of the Congress noted, “The
        New Delhi
                                                                                                   picture is not as clear as it is shown. There are lay-
              he political corridors of Delhi are abuzz with                                       ers to this resignation that will only become visible
              speculation following the abrupt resigna-                                            in the coming days. It is our responsibility to seek
        Ttion of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar,                                                  answers and ensure transparency in constitutional
        who stepped down from his constitutional post on                                           offices.”
        Monday evening citing health concerns. While his                                              Jagdeep Dhankhar’s tenure as Vice President
        official letter to President Droupadi Murmu refer-                                         was  marked  by  firm  control  over  parliamentary
        enced “medical advice” and a desire to “prioritise                                         proceedings and frequent clashes with opposition
        health,” opposition parties allege that the real rea-                                      MPs. While BJP leaders hailed his leadership for
        sons lie deeper — and are being deliberately ob-                                           upholding decorum in the Rajya Sabha, critics la-
        scured.                                                                                    beled him as overtly partisan. Prior to serving as
            The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party  (AAP),                                                  Vice President, Dhankhar was the Governor of
        Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Shiv Sena                                                West Bengal, where he had multiple run-ins with
        (UBT) have all demanded clarity, questioning both                                          the state government led by Mamata Banerjee.
        the timing and circumstances of Dhankhar’s exit.                                              Despite his strong alignment with the BJP,
        Some have gone as far as to suggest internal tur-                                          Dhankhar occasionally voiced concerns on issues
        moil within the BJP or friction within Parliament                                          like judicial accountability, farmers’ welfare, and
        as possible triggers.                                                                      excessive political arrogance, which endeared him
            “The sudden and mysterious manner in which                                             to some and alienated others.
        the Vice President resigned leaves many questions                                             JMM MP Mahua Maji said the timing of the
        unanswered,” said Congress leader Randeep Sur-                                             resignation—just days before the expected conclu-
        jewala. “The BJP has a track record of weakening                                           sion of the Monsoon Session—was “shocking” and
        constitutional  offices  and  processes.  We  demand                                       that Dhankhar could have waited. “There should
        that Prime Minister Modi come forward and ex-                                              have been transparency. Everyone is speculating
        plain the reasons to the people and to Parliament.”                                        now,” she said.
            In his letter, Dhankhar stated: “To prioritise                                            Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi empha-
        health care and abide by medical advice, I here-                                           sized the unprecedented nature of the resignation.
        by resign as the Vice President of India, effective   Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post “to   “This is the first time in history that over 50 MPs
        immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of                                           signed  a  no-confidence  motion  against  the  Vice
        the Constitution.” Yet many opposition leaders are   prioritise health care and abide by medical advice” (ANI)  President. The government owes us and the people
        skeptical. AAP Delhi President Saurabh Bhardwaj                                            an explanation,” she told ANI.
        called the resignation “unusual” and hinted at be-  his decision to step down.                So far, the BJP has remained largely silent. No
        hind-the-scenes developments.                    In a post on X, Ramesh wrote: “Yesterday,  senior party member has publicly addressed the
            Bhardwaj also pointed to unresolved internal  Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar chaired the Business Advi-  circumstances leading to Dhankhar’s resignation.
        discussions within the BJP regarding party leader-  sory Committee of the Rajya Sabha at 12:30 PM. It  Observers believe the party is working behind the
        ship, suggesting that Dhankhar’s resignation might  was attended by most members, including Leader  scenes to manage the fallout and ensure a smooth
        be linked to broader political realignments. “There  of the House JP Nadda and Minister of Parliamen-  transition.
        have been talks about changes in the party presi-  tary Affairs Kiren Rijiju. The BAC reconvened at   As per constitutional provisions, an election
        dent’s post for months, and this resignation adds to  4:30 PM, but both Nadda and Rijiju were absent  will now be held to fill the vacant post. The Vice
        the uncertainty,” he said.                   and did not inform him directly. This may have  President is elected by an electoral college com-
            Sources close to Parliament suggest that  been the final straw.”                       posed of members from both Houses of Parliament
        Dhankhar’s relationship with some senior BJP     Adding a new layer to the controversy, it has  through a proportional representation system.
        leaders had become strained in recent weeks. Con-  emerged that opposition parties had recently   Until then, speculation will continue to swirl.
        gress MP Jairam Ramesh recounted events on the  submitted a notice seeking Dhankhar’s removal  Was Dhankhar’s exit truly about health, or was it a
        day of Dhankhar’s resignation, alleging that he  as Vice President, citing partisan conduct in the  symptom of a deeper political rift within the ruling
        was not informed in person about the absence of  Rajya Sabha. As Chairman of the Upper House,  establishment? Until the silence from the govern-
        key BJP leaders from a critical Business Advisory  Dhankhar was accused of suppressing opposition  ment is broken, political circles are likely to remain
        Committee (BAC) meeting, which may have led to  voices and exhibiting favoritism towards the ruling  rife with speculation and conjecture.


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