The Vice President just quit.
but it's not as simple as it looks
Hey,
How’s your Tuesday looking? Hopefully calmer than what went down in Parliament yesterday.
The monsoon session kicked off on Monday with the usual ceremonial pace. The Rajya Sabha met, leaders took their seats, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was right there, presiding like always. Everything seemed in order, until it wasn’t.
A few hours into the day, Dhankhar announced that he has resigned.
Yep. Just like that.
📌 The resignation came without warning
In a formal letter to President Droupadi Murmu, the 74-year-old wrote that he was stepping down “effective immediately” under Article 67(a) of the Constitution, citing health concerns and the need to follow “medical advice.”
It was polite, respectful, and... strangely timed.
After all, Dhankhar’s five-year term wasn’t set to end until August 2027.
So why leave now?
His health has been a concern; he had angioplasty earlier this year and fainted at a public event in June. But on Monday, he wasn’t just present, he was active. He chaired sessions, swore in members, and even scheduled judiciary-related announcements for the next day.
So, the resignation has left everyone asking: What really happened?
The timing feels too convenient
Let’s break this down.
Hours before quitting, Dhankhar took a bold and unexpected step: he accepted an opposition-sponsored motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court. The motion was based on reports of large sums of burnt cash found at the judge’s residence.
This move reportedly caught the Centre off guard.
Soon after, Dhankhar called a high-level meeting. Strangely, two key BJP leader - JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju didn’t show up.
Then, came his unannounced visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
And finally, the resignation.
📌 Also, the opposition is not buying the health story
Several opposition leaders have publicly raised doubts.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said he had spoken to Dhankhar just hours before the resignation and that he “seemed completely fine.”
His reaction was “shocking and inexplicable.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey questioned why the resignation was timed with Day One of the Monsoon Session. If it was really about health, he argued, why not resign before or after the session?
Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan, who saw Dhankhar in the House that day, said he “seemed perfectly okay.”
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat also added a cryptic remark:
“Two and two don’t always make four in politics. There are elections in Bihar. You can think… it seems like pressure or planning.”
📌 So, is a larger power struggle at play?
Political observers are speculating this might not just be about one resignation, it could be part of a larger tug-of-war within the ruling alliance.
Dhankhar wasn’t known for staying quiet. His tenure saw moments of visible friction with the opposition, including an impeachment motion in December 2024, a rare move that only highlighted his strong-willed style.
And now, when he acts against a sitting judge and sets off what could be a stormy judicial shakeup, he suddenly resigns?
Feels... orchestrated.
📌 What happens next?
Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will take over for now. The Election Commission will announce the VP election soon, which must be completed before September 19. MPs from both houses will vote using a secret ballot.
As for who the next VP will be, that’s going to be another strategic battle between the NDA and the opposition’s INDI Alliance.
But for now, the mystery of Dhankhar’s resignation lingers like a riddle that Parliament, and the public, aren’t quite ready to let go of.
So, that’s it for today. If you enjoyed this edition, subscribe to hear from us every day!
See ya 👋
