Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns as Vice President of India
India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned suddenly due to health reasons, shocking Parliament and raising political questions.
India got a big political shock on 21st July 2025. It was the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, where leaders were supposed to discuss important laws and national issues. But at 1:30 PM, a press release from Rashtrapati Bhavan surprised everyone. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar announced his resignation.
In his letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said he was stepping down because of health issues and needed to follow medical advice. His resignation was immediate, which shocked everyone, including senior political leaders. Just a few hours before this, Dhankhar was seen chairing Rajya Sabha and attending meetings.
In the past few months, Dhankhar had health problems. In March 2025, he was admitted to AIIMS Delhi for chest pain and had an angioplasty. In June, he fainted on stage at Kumaon University in Nainital. Doctors had advised him to take full rest, but he continued attending events.
Some politicians think there could be more reasons behind the resignation. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the resignation shocking and said there might be other hidden reasons.
Jagdeep Dhankhar became India’s 14th Vice President in August 2022. He was known for his bold speeches and strong support for government policies. He also often clashed with opposition MPs during Parliament debates.
This is only the third time in India’s history that a Vice President has resigned in the middle of their term. Earlier, V. V. Giri resigned in 1969 to become President, and R. Venkataraman resigned in 1987 to also become President. Dhankhar resigned for health reasons, not for any higher post, making it a unique situation.
After Dhankhar’s resignation, Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh will temporarily manage Rajya Sabha meetings. According to rules, elections for the new Vice President must happen within 60 days. So, by September 2025, India will get a new Vice President. The election dates will be announced soon.
Opposition parties are asking for more details and a full explanation. Meanwhile, the ruling NDA is holding secret meetings to decide their next Vice President candidate. No names have been announced yet.
People are left wondering if it was only about health or if there were other personal or political reasons. For now, there is no clear answer.
