Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh on Monday called Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation “shocking” and “inexplicable,” urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally intervene and persuade him to withdraw his decision.
Shortly after the news broke, Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to express concern, revealing that he and several MPs had met with Dhankhar earlier in the day, and also spoken with him by phone just hours before the announcement.
“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,” Ramesh wrote.
Describing the resignation as abrupt and unusual, Ramesh pointed out that Dhankhar had been scheduled to chair a key Business Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday and was expected to make “major announcements” related to the judiciary.
Also read: Jagdeep Dhankhar’s tenure in Parliament: From procedural flashpoints to political showdowns, all you need to know
“This is not the time for speculation though,” he added, while acknowledging Dhankhar’s balanced approach in holding both the government and Opposition accountable during his tenure.
Ramesh concluded his post by urging the Prime Minister to step in, saying, “We expect the Prime Minister to get Mr. Dhankar to change his mind. This will be in the nation's interest. The farming community particularly will be greatly relieved.”
He also wished the outgoing Vice President a full recovery and good health.
Dhankhar, 74, submitted his resignation citing health concerns. In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, he wrote: “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.”
The decision came on the very day Parliament’s Monsoon Session began, taking even his critics by surprise.
Dhankhar noted it had been “a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India's remarkable economic progress” during what he called a transformative period in the nation's history.
Also read: From courtroom to Parliament: How Jagdeep Dhankhar rose to India’s second-highest office before a midterm exit
Only the second Vice President in India’s history to resign mid-term—the first being V V Giri in 1969—Dhankhar’s abrupt exit followed an already tense day in the Rajya Sabha.
Earlier, he had acknowledged receipt of a motion moved by the Opposition to remove Justice Yashwant Varma from office—an unprecedented move that added to the day's dramatic developments.
Shortly after the news broke, Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to express concern, revealing that he and several MPs had met with Dhankhar earlier in the day, and also spoken with him by phone just hours before the announcement.
“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,” Ramesh wrote.
Describing the resignation as abrupt and unusual, Ramesh pointed out that Dhankhar had been scheduled to chair a key Business Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday and was expected to make “major announcements” related to the judiciary.
Also read: Jagdeep Dhankhar’s tenure in Parliament: From procedural flashpoints to political showdowns, all you need to know
“This is not the time for speculation though,” he added, while acknowledging Dhankhar’s balanced approach in holding both the government and Opposition accountable during his tenure.
The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha 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 Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 21, 2025
No doubt Mr. Dhankar has to give topmost…
Ramesh concluded his post by urging the Prime Minister to step in, saying, “We expect the Prime Minister to get Mr. Dhankar to change his mind. This will be in the nation's interest. The farming community particularly will be greatly relieved.”
He also wished the outgoing Vice President a full recovery and good health.
Dhankhar, 74, submitted his resignation citing health concerns. In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, he wrote: “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.”
The decision came on the very day Parliament’s Monsoon Session began, taking even his critics by surprise.
Dhankhar noted it had been “a privilege and satisfaction to witness and partake in India's remarkable economic progress” during what he called a transformative period in the nation's history.
Also read: From courtroom to Parliament: How Jagdeep Dhankhar rose to India’s second-highest office before a midterm exit
Only the second Vice President in India’s history to resign mid-term—the first being V V Giri in 1969—Dhankhar’s abrupt exit followed an already tense day in the Rajya Sabha.
Earlier, he had acknowledged receipt of a motion moved by the Opposition to remove Justice Yashwant Varma from office—an unprecedented move that added to the day's dramatic developments.
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