On Monday evening (IST), VP Dhankhar resigned from his post of Vice-President of India in a sudden move, citing medical reasons. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he said that he was stepping down with immediate effect.

Served as the 14th Vice President of India from 11 August 2022 until his resignation on 21 July 2025; he was the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Chancellor of Delhi University.

Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was for five years till 2027. According to constitutional norms, he is also the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

His resignation came as a surprise, one of many reasons, as it was the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He had called a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Tuesday, which decided on the topics of discussions and debates in the House.

Official statements from both Jagdeep Dhankhar and the government have consistently cited health reasons as the sole cause for his resignation. His resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu explicitly states that he is stepping down "to prioritize health care and abide by medical advice." He tendered resignation invoking Article 67 (a) of the Constitution.

However, there have been some reports and speculation from certain opposition quarters. Some media outlets have noted the history of friction between the Vice President, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (the upper House of Parliament), and opposition members. His tenure was marked by frequent clashes over parliamentary procedures and his handling of legislative debates. Some opposition leaders have previously accused him of being biased and acting as a spokesperson for the ruling government.

While no specific political party has publicly attributed his resignation to a political reason, some analysts and news reports have hinted at a combination of "political pressure and ideological divergence" as possible, though unconfirmed, factors. These are not official stances of any political party, but rather speculative points raised in media commentary.

The Congress Party, on Monday, expressed shock at the abrupt and midterm resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, calling it 'totally unexpected". Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that there is far more to it than meets the eye.

In a post on X, Jairam expressed surprise saying, "The sudden resignation is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 pm today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 pm." Jairam further added, "No doubt Mr Dhankar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye. This is not the time for speculation though. Mr Dhankar took both the government and the opposition to task in equal measure. He had fixed a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee tomorrow at 1 PM. He was also to make some major announcements related to the judiciary tomorrow".

About Jagdeep Dhankar

Born on 18 May 1951, in Kithana village, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, India to Late Shri Gokal Chand and Srimati Kesari Devi; Jagdeep Dhankhar had attended government, Sainik Schools and Maharaja's College (Jaipur), the University of Rajasthan, leading him later on to join legal profession. Married to Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar in 1979, he has one daughter, Smt. Kamna.

Designated as a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan in 1990, he practiced primarily in constitutional law in the Supreme Court of India. Also served as the President of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association.

Politically, he served as a member of the 9th Lok Sabha from the Jhunjhunu constituency (1989-1991). Served as the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar ministry (1990-1991). Joined Indian National Congress in 1991; he was a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Kishangarh (1993-1998). Joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2003, he was the party's nominee for Vice President

Senior Leader from the Congress, Jairam Ramesh also requested him to reconsider his decision and has urged the Prime Minister to talk to him about the decision, calling the reversal to be a relief for farming community.

The election of the Vice- President is mainly governed by Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution and the Vice-President (Election) Rules, 1974. The Vice-President holds the second-highest constitutional position in the country, after the President.

With the post of vice president now vacant, the Election Commission will initiate the process to elect a new occupant for the office. The Constitution mandates that the vacancy must be filled "as soon as possible."

Under Article 66, the Vice President is elected by an 'electoral college' consisting solely of members of both Houses of Parliament -- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha -- via a 'secret ballot' and a proportional representation system using the single transferable vote.

Key eligibility criteria for a candidate to be the Vice President

Must be a citizen of India;
At least 35 years old;
Eligible for election to the Rajya Sabha; and, Not holding any office of profit.
The Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, responsible for maintaining order and procedure in the Rajya Sabha. However, the Vice President is not a member of either house of the Parliament or of a legislature of any state.
The Vice President also steps in as 'acting President' in case the sitting President is unable to fulfill duties due to resignation, death, or removal, until a new President is elected. This sudden vacancy is likely to prompt swift political consultations across party lines, as the electoral college of 788 MPs (543 in Lok Sabha and 245 in Rajya Sabha) will soon be called upon to vote for a new Vice President. The Election Commission is expected to issue a formal notification and timeline shortly.

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