Jagdeep Dhankhar Quits as Vice President — What Really Happened? {update}

Dhankhar is now part of a rare club. Only two other Vice Presidents in India’s history have quit early—V.V. Giri in 1969 and R. Venkataraman in 1987. Know more about Jagdeep Dhankhar’s political journey.

More Than Just Health?

Dhankhar’s resignation came just days after he collapsed at an event in Delhi on July 17. He was taken to AIIMS and treated for a heart issue. Doctors performed angioplasty. After that, he was told to rest. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said he would focus on his health from now on. The President accepted his decision, and the government made it official through a notification.

But here’s where it gets interesting.

Behind the scenes, things weren’t so smooth. Just before he quit, Dhankhar had allowed an impeachment motion against Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma. That motion came from the opposition. Sources say Dhankhar didn’t take the government into confidence. That single move upset some big names in the ruling party.

That same day, BJP leaders JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju skipped a meeting that Dhankhar had called. People close to the matter say that was no accident. The message was clear. Things weren’t okay between the Vice President and his party.

Was he pushed out? Nobody’s saying it aloud, but the timing sure feels off.

The Vice President can resign by writing to the President. This rule comes from Article 67(a) of the Constitution. Since Dhankhar quit, the Rajya Sabha needs someone to run it. For now, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will step in.

A new Vice President must be elected within 60 days. That means the election will happen before September 19, 2025.

There’s already talk about who might take Dhankhar’s place. Some say the BJP may use this chance to win favour in Bihar. Rumours suggest Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s Chief Minister, could be in the running for Vice President. If true, it could shake things up ahead of the state elections.

But let’s not jump the gun. Right now, these are just guesses.

Dhankhar is now part of a rare club. Only two other Vice Presidents in India’s history have quit early—V.V. Giri in 1969 and R. Venkataraman in 1987. Both of them later became President.

Whether Dhankhar follows that route is anyone’s guess. But for now, his political future is a big question mark.

The spotlight is now on the upcoming Vice Presidential election. Political parties will soon start working behind the scenes to find a winning candidate. With Parliament in session, the role of Rajya Sabha Chairman matters more than ever.

Dhankhar’s resignation may have been sudden, but it wasn’t empty. It came with signals—of power struggles, of differences, and of quiet exits wrapped in polite language.