Congress Alleges “Political Exit” in Dhankhar’s Sudden Resignation from Vice Presidency

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The Indian National Congress has sharply questioned the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, describing his departure as a “political exit camouflaged as a constitutional lie.” The Opposition party suggests that “far deeper reasons” than the stated health concerns are behind the unexpected move, which occurred on the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session.

Jagdeep Dhankhar, who assumed office as Vice President in August 2022 and served as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, July 21, 2025. In his resignation letter, Dhankhar cited Article 67(a) of the Constitution, stating his decision to “prioritize healthcare and abide by medical advice,” with his resignation effective immediately. This development came with two years remaining in his five-year term.

However, the timing and abrupt nature of Dhankhar’s departure have fueled speculation and criticism from the Congress. Senior Congress leader and party chief whip in Rajya Sabha, Jairam Ramesh, voiced strong doubts about the official reason, stating, “No doubt Mr. Dhankhar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly, there is far more to his unexpected resignation than meets the eye.” Ramesh further indicated that Dhankhar had been scheduled to make “some major announcements related to the judiciary” on Tuesday and had even presided over a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the Rajya Sabha earlier on Monday, showing no visible signs of ill health.

Other Congress leaders have echoed these sentiments, pointing to an alleged incident where two senior ministers from the ruling party reportedly failed to attend a rescheduled BAC meeting chaired by Dhankhar, potentially leading to his displeasure. While the ruling party has refuted these claims, stating that proper intimation was given for their absence, the Opposition continues to press for transparency. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi on Saturday alleged that Dhankhar’s “showing of some minimal independence, possibly belatedly, was his real mistake,” hinting at political pressure as the underlying cause.

The resignation has triggered a constitutional process for the Election Commission of India to promptly organize an election for the vacant Vice President’s office. In the interim, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will preside over the Upper House.

The controversy surrounding Dhankhar’s exit highlights ongoing tensions between the ruling dispensation and the Opposition, particularly concerning the functioning of parliamentary institutions and the conduct of high constitutional offices. The Congress’s persistent questioning ensures that the reasons behind this significant political development will likely remain a subject of intense debate as the nation awaits the election of a new Vice President.