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VP Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns: His last day in office was an eventful one

Vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday to “prioritise health”. His resignation said that he is stepping down with immediate effect.

Published on: Jul 22, 2025, 10:38:08 IST
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Vice president Jagdeep Dhankar surprised everybody on Monday by resigning from his post, citing health reasons.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation on Monday after presiding over a deeply divided Rajya Sabha for nearly three years. (ANI)
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation on Monday after presiding over a deeply divided Rajya Sabha for nearly three years. (ANI)

This came after an eventful day as the Rajya Sabha chairman, presiding over the first day of the monsoon session 2025. Dhankar started Monday paying respects to the ex-Rajya Sabha members who passed away between the Budget and the Monsoon sessions. He then administered oath of office to the newly elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha.

Following this, ruckus ensued in the Upper House as Jagdeep Dhankar rejected 18 adjournment motions submitted by opposition members on different issues, including discussion on Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, and the Bihar voter roll revision. The Rajya Sabha saw a brief adjournment before resuming for the Question Hour.

After lunch, around 200 MPs submitted a motion to remove justice Yashwant Varma over burnt wads of cash found at his residence to the Rajya Sabha chairman. Jagdeep Dhankhar mentioned the motion in the House and asked the secretary general to take further necessary steps.

The 74-year-old also presided over the business advisory committee meeting.

Why did Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resign?

Vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday evening to "prioritise health". He has sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, saying he is stepping down with immediate effect.

"To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately," his letter read.

In his resignation letter, he expressed his deep gratitude for the invaluable experiences and insights he gained as Vice President.

Earlier this month, Jagdeep Dhankhar had said he would retire at the "right time".

"I will retire at the right time, August 2027, subject to divine intervention," he had jokingly said while addressing an event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi.

The Congress has expressed surprise at his resignation, with party general secretary Jairam Ramesh saying it is "totally unexpected" and there is "far more to it than meets the eye".

  • Shivam Pratap Singh
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shivam Pratap Singh

    Shivam Pratap Singh is a digital journalist who works as a Deputy Chief Content Producer with Hindustan Times. Having previously worked with various platforms covering national, international as well as sports events, he blends in various topics to easy to read news pieces for the benefit of the reader. Shivam holds a Master's degree in International Relations from Jamia Millia Islamia, bringing in a unique perspective for whatever is happening around the world. An avid reader, he can be seen immersed in books and book shops while not working. Shivam treats every topic almost equally but loves to right about foreign affairs and politics of India. He has over half-a-decade of experience in digital journalism though his career started in print.Read More

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