President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President, BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair in the Rajya Sabha, announced on Tuesday.
Tiwari told the upper house that the Ministry of Home Affairs, vide its notification, conveyed the resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect.
Dhankhar, 74, tendered his resignation, citing health reasons. In his resignation letter addressed to the President, Dhankhar 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 thanked President Murmu “for her unwavering support and the wonderful, soothing working relationship” they shared during his tenure.
Reacting to Dhankhar’s resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished him good health, noting that Mr Dhankhar got many opportunities to serve the country in various capacities, and wished him good health.
“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,” Modi wrote on X.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has raised eyebrows over Dhankhar’s sudden decision to resign, with the Congress party claiming there is more than what meets the eye.
“The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is unimaginable. Until around 5 PM this evening, I was with him, along with several other MPs. And at 7:30 PM, I had a phone conversation with him. Undoubtedly, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar should prioritize his health above all else. However, it is also clear that there is more to his completely unexpected resignation than meets the eye,” senior Congress leader Ramesh said.
With Dhankhar’s resignation now accepted, the BJP-led NDA is expected to announce its candidate for the Vice President’s post soon.
As per the Constitution, the election for the Vice President’s post after the resignation of the sitting one must be held “as soon as possible.”
