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In an unexpected announcement, Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down as India’s Vice President on Monday to "focus on health care". At 74 years old, he held this position since 2022 and shared his decision after leading the first day of the Monsoon Session as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar stated, "To prioritize health care and follow medical advice, I am resigning as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, according to Article 67(a) of the Constitution". The Vice President’s Office made the letter public. According to Article 67 of the Constitution regarding the Vice President’s term, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will handle daily responsibilities until a new Vice President is elected. Article 67(a) allows the Vice President to resign in writing to the President before their term ends.
Expressing gratitude to President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dhankhar wrote, "I sincerely thank your excellency - the Honorable President of India for her continuous support and the positive working relationship we had throughout my time in office. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the Honorable Prime Minister and the respected Council of Ministers.The Prime Minister’s help and support have been extremely useful, and I have gained a lot during my tenure". Earlier this year, in March, Dhankhar was hospitalized at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences due to feeling unwell and experiencing chest pain.
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 21, 2025
Last month, he collapsed after stepping off the stage at an event at Nainital University. On Monday, while overseeing the Upper House, Jagdeep Dhankhar mentioned that he received a letter from over 50 Rajya Sabha members asking for a committee to be formed for the removal of Justice Varma. Dhankhar then instructed the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha "to check if a similar motion has been put forward in the Lok Sabha". "This is happening following the correct procedure. If the motion is presented in both houses on different days, only the first one is considered. If they are presented on the same day, the rules change," Dhankhar explained.
Interestingly, regarding the impeachment case of Justice Yashwant Varma, he noted that one of the 55 signatures was duplicated and called for an investigation. Recently, Dhankhar has openly criticized the judiciary by stating that "Parliament is supreme". He also criticized the Supreme Court for imposing a deadline for the President and Governor to sign bills that state governments passed, indicating, "We have judges who are making laws, taking on executive duties, acting like a super Parliament, and they are held accountable to no one because the law does not apply to them".
By resigning, Jagdeep Dhankhar became the seventh Vice President who did not serve the entire five-year term.Dhankhar, who had an additional two years remaining in his role, won against the INDIA bloc candidate Margaret Alva in 2022. Prior to his role as the Rajya Sabha Chairman, the lawyer-turned-politician held the position of Governor of West Bengal, a period characterized by ongoing conflicts with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Interestingly, the Trinamool Congress chose to skip the voting for the vice-presidential elections and stated that Mamata Banerjee was not consulted by the Opposition before they introduced Margaret Alva as their united candidate.
