Vice President Dhankhar’s Final Parliamentary Day Before Unexpected Resignation

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, experienced a remarkably active Monday, July 21, 2025, presiding over the initial sitting of Parliament’s Monsoon Session before tendering his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu later in the evening. Citing health reasons and the need to prioritize medical advice, Dhankhar’s sudden departure, effective immediately, has initiated a constitutional process to elect his successor. His eventful day in the Upper House provided little public indication of his imminent decision to step down from the nation’s second-highest constitutional post.

Dhankhar’s day commenced with him presiding over the Rajya Sabha, a role he performed for over an hour. During this period, he administered oaths to five newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs), marking a routine yet significant parliamentary procedure. The House also saw some of the typical disruptions, with the Chairman adjourning proceedings during Zero Hour following opposition uproar. Despite the day’s regular parliamentary duties, the Vice President’s schedule extended beyond the chamber, including a meeting of the Rajya Sabha’s Business Advisory Committee. Furthermore, he engaged with Opposition MPs who had submitted an impeachment notice against an Allahabad High Court judge, acknowledging the receipt of this significant motion in the House later in the evening.

The resignation, which was publicly announced via the Vice President’s official social media handle late Monday night, came as a surprise to many within political circles. Even after presiding over the initial session and holding various meetings, including one with several MPs until around 5 PM, and speaking with a Congress leader at 7:30 PM, there was no outward sign of his impending decision. A Press Information Bureau (PIB) release issued earlier in the afternoon had even detailed his planned visit to Jaipur on July 23.

In his resignation letter to President Murmu, Dhankhar conveyed deep gratitude to the President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Council of Ministers, and all Members of Parliament for their support during his tenure. He stated, “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.” He expressed pride in India’s “remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development” witnessed during his time in office.

Dhankhar’s resignation, the first by an Indian Vice President citing health reasons, triggers the constitutional mechanism for a new election to fill the vacant position. While the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha will assume the responsibilities of the Chairman in the interim, the Election Commission of India is now tasked with organizing the election “as soon as possible.” The unexpected development shifts political focus to the imminent process of selecting a new Vice President.