NEW DELHI, July 21: In a sudden move, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening resigned from his post citing medical reasons, triggering speculations in political circles.
In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said he was stepping down with immediate effect to “prioritise health care”.
“To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,” he said in the letter to the President.
Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was till August 2027. The resignation of Dhankhar, also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, came on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.
He had recently underwent angioplasty at AIIMS, Delhi and was admitted to the hospital for a few days in March this year.
He appeared not so well at a few events, but has been mostly seen as lively and energetic in his most public appearances, including in Parliament.
In his eventful tenure as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar has had several run-ins with the Opposition, which had also moved a motion to impeach him. The motion to remove him, the first time ever in independent India to remove a sitting Vice President, was later rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh.
He is the third Vice President of India after VV Giri and R Venkataraman to resign during tenure. Giri and Venkataraman had resigned from the post of Vice President to contest the Presidential election.
As per rules, elections have to be held within the next six months to fill the post of Vice President. However, the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman can take over the House proceedings till the time a new VP is elected.
Jagdeep Dhankhar was named the NDA’s candidate for Vice President on July 16, 2022, and formally filed his nomination on July 18. Supported by the BJP and its allies, Dhankhar won the August 6, 2022, election by a record margin, receiving 528 votes out of 710, defeating opposition candidate Margaret Alva, who secured only 182 votes. (Agencies)
