In a move that caught the nation off guard, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has tendered his resignation, citing health issues as the primary reason. His sudden exit has sent shockwaves through political circles, especially since the announcement came on the very first day of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session. Adding to the mystery, the central government remained silent for hours following the resignation, prompting strong reactions from the opposition, which not only expressed surprise but also began criticizing the government’s silence. This has fueled speculation over the true reasons behind Dhankhar’s unexpected departure.
Impeachment Dispute May Have Triggered Resignation
Multiple theories are swirling around Dhankhar’s resignation, with some attributing it to his tough stance against the judiciary, while others suggest that his growing divergence from government policies may have caused friction. A section of political observers has also pointed to his increasing engagements with opposition leaders as a potential reason for the fallout with the government.
According to a report by News18, the final trigger may have been a heated phone conversation between Dhankhar and a senior union minister regarding the impeachment motion against Justice Verma. Over 65 opposition MPs had submitted the proposal, which Dhankhar accepted in his capacity as Rajya Sabha Chairman—reportedly without the government’s prior knowledge. This move allegedly sparked serious concern in top government circles.
Sources say tensions further escalated when BJP President J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju skipped a 4:30 PM meeting called by Dhankhar on the same day. These developments point to a growing trust deficit that had been building for months.
The Opposition wants a productive Rajya Sabha session from July 21st. For that to happen a number of strategic, political, foreign policy and socio-economic issues that are of great public concern need to be debated and discussed.
Today, I called on the Hon’ble Chairman of the… pic.twitter.com/FG529olfUC
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 15, 2025
Closer Ties with Opposition Raised Eyebrows
Adding to the intrigue is Dhankhar’s recent outreach to opposition leaders. On July 15, the Vice President’s office shared a 44-second video showing a meeting with Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge at VP Enclave. Just a day before the Monsoon Session began, Dhankhar was seen visiting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal at his residence—despite Kejriwal not being a Member of Parliament. The photos from the meeting were made public, prompting political chatter.
While such meetings fall under official protocol, media reports suggest Dhankhar may have expressed criticism of the Modi government during these interactions. This is a stark contrast from 2024, when opposition parties had introduced an impeachment motion against him, accusing him of bias as Rajya Sabha Chairman.
Since March, Dhankhar had been making a conscious effort to build bridges with opposition leaders—often meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh, and senior Congress MP Pramod Tiwari. Both Ramesh and Tiwari are now leading calls to persuade Dhankhar to reconsider his resignation. The shift from confrontation in December to appeals for his return in July underscores the dramatic political turnaround.
As the nation waits for an official statement from the government, the real reasons behind Vice President Dhankhar’s resignation remain shrouded in speculation, with many believing there’s more than meets the eye.